Roma missed an astonishing three penalties in succession against Lille in a humiliating three-minute sequence of their 1-0 Europa League defeat.
In unprecedented scenes, the Italian side spurned a hat-trick of spot kicks in rapid succession after there were two retakes.
Artem Dovbyk stepped up to take the first but the powerful striker sent a tame shot to the goalkeeper’s left.
It was easily saved by the hero of the night, Berke Ozer, but just a minute later the referee was re-spotting the ball after Lille players had gone into the box too early.
Again it was Dovbyk entrusted with the responsibility but the result was exactly the same. The Ukrainian went the same way with the same lack of conviction and Ozer made easy work of it.
You would think after the calamitous encroachment on the first penalty that Lille would learn their lesson.
Artem Dovbyk missed the first two penalties and was taken off spot kick duty for the third
Berke Ozer was Lille’s hero, saving three penalties in quick succession to keep the lead in tact
But this time it was the keeper at fault, moving off his line and giving Roma a third lifeline in the 80th minute with the score still 1-0 to the visitors.
Dovbyk was hauled off penalty duty and Matias Soule stepped up to take it. But the Argentine suffered the same fate, going the opposite way to his team-mate but still seeing his penalty saved.
It was a passage of play Turkish stopper Ozer will never forget and Roma boss Giano Piero Gasperini will not have been able to believe the capitulation.
Afterwards, he reflected: ‘It had never happened to me before to miss three penalties in the same situation. We went behind early, which gave them the best conditions. Roma, despite some technical errors, played with desire and rhythm until the end.
‘Maybe we weren’t strong in taking advantage of the chances but from these games you come out with something more.
On the bizarre penalty incident, he added: ‘It was almost unique and accidental. But it happened and undoubtedly compromised the result. The team, in terms of spirit, gave a lot.
‘We are sportsmen. Mistakes happen, but there is no such thing as getting discouraged. Luckily we play every three days, so we move on quickly.’
Roma keeper Mile Svilar reflected: ‘The missed penalties? Those who take them are always brave, it’s a shame. The next ones will definitely go better.’
Hákon Arnar Haraldsson had put Lille ahead in the sixth minute at Stadio Olimpico, which was enough for the French club to earn a second win in two games.
