"Entire newspaper columns and late-night TV broadcasts were given over to analysing his infallibility, before he finally smacked one against a post in a draw at home to Napoli last year. Even then, no goalkeeper had ever stopped him. By now they knew his favourite place to aim, the bottom left from his perspective, and still that was not enough to keep his shots out."
"Mike Maignan took a different approach. Instead of positioning himself closer to where he expected Calhanoglu to shoot, he did the opposite, standing a good step over to the opposite side of the goal his left, the Inter player's right. It felt like a dare. Maignan was telling Calhanoglu to take his favourite shot and even offering a head-start. Better put it right in the corner, though, because we both know that's where it's going, and I'm going to come after it fast.'"
A VAR review after 73 minutes awarded Inter a penalty when replays showed Strahinja Pavlovic treading on Marcus Thuram's foot inside the box. Hakan Calhanoglu entered the moment with an almost perfect penalty record in Serie A, known for aiming bottom-left and converting the vast majority of his spot-kicks. Mike Maignan adopted an unorthodox position, standing toward the opposite side of the goal as a provocation. Calhanoglu kept his shot on target, but Maignan hurled himself down, got a strong hand to the ball and kept it out, denying the equaliser.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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