Fans on social media were quick to mock Erling Haaland over what he did during the first half of Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Manchester City were trailing 1-0 when Bernardo Silva won a penalty kick to give his team a golden chance to equalise against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Haaland initially looked set to take the spot-kick, even more so after he kissed the ball.
However, it then transpired that the kiss was seemingly to wish Omar Marmoush luck as Haaland handed the ball over to his team-mate.
Unfortunately for City, it not not bring Marmoush good fortune as the Egyptian saw his effort saved by Palace keeper Dean Henderson.
Reacting to the incident on X (formerly Twitter), one fan wrote: ‘Haaland kissed the ball that was a kiss of death’.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland pictured kissing the ball during Saturday’s FA Cup final
Shortly after kissing the ball, Haaland gave it to City team-mate Omar Marmoush at Wembley
Another added: ‘Cracking save. Made all the better by the daft Haaland ball kiss before handing it over.’
Former Arsenal Fan TV regular Troopz tweeted: ‘Haaland with the kiss of death lol madting’.
Meanwhile, a fourth comment read: ‘Haaland gave that ball the “cheese touch” with that kiss.’
Henderson was perhaps lucky to still be on the pitch when he saved Marmoush’s penalty.
The Palace keeper got away with blatantly handling the ball outside of his penalty area earlier in the first half.
Henderson’s handball was missed by on-field referee Stuart Attwell, before the VAR decided it was not worthy of a red card, despite appearing to deny Haaland a clear scoring chance.
All of this happened after Eberechi Eze had fired Palace 1-0 up in the 16th minute.
