A roundup of the top news stories from the goalkeeping world between the 2nd and 12th of February.
Header image: via Belfast Telegraph
Plymouth goalkeeper's heroics dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup
Irishman Conor Hazard solidified his claim to Plymouth's number one position with fine string of late saves to end Liverpool's chance of winning the quadruple.
Hazard has only made nine appearances for Plymouth this season, but having recently come into the time, he has hit a hot spot of form. He made two excellent late saves from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota to preserve the clean sheet and win as Argyle survived nine minutes of added time.
For Hazard, however, it was just another day on the job.
'What an atmosphere. We didn’t expect that this morning. We knew it was going to be tough but the boys were brilliant and I’m proud of every single one of them.
'At the end of the day that’s my job, to make saves, isn’t it? You have to keep the ball out of the net as best you can.'
Martin Dubravka wins Premier League Save of the Month
Newcastle's Martin Dubravka secured two nominations for the award, but it was his excellent stop to deny Wolves' Jørgen Strand Larsen in a 3-0 win at St. James' Park that saw the prize awarded to the Slovakian goalkeeper.
The 36 year old, nearing a half-century of Premier League clean sheets for Newcastle, was up for the award alongside former Magpie Matz Sels as well as Ipswich Town's Christian Walton, Arsenal's David Raya, and Leicester City's Jakub Stolarczyk.
After receiving the trophy, Dúbravka paid tribute to the goalkeeper department for the work put in to making those saves. He said: 'We'd done a preparation with the goalkeeper coach about the situation. It is extra special because the whole preparation for the game pays off at that moment. You know that you did something right during the week.
'It's not just that save, but it's repetitions. You're constantly working during during the week on the opponent and you try to replicate it - and in a situation like this you're happy.'
Jamie Donley wonder strike causes an Ortega own goal
The early kick-off in Saturday’s FA Cup games saw Leyton Orient take on the Champions of England at a packed Brisbane Road. The game started strongly for the hosts as they took the lead after 16 minutes. The ball fell to the feet of Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley, who, from the halfway line, miraculously attempted a long range shot.
Donley’s chancer sailed quickly towards City’s goal and hit the bar before fortunately rebounding off Stefan Ortega to nestle in the back of the net. In a more positive goalkeeping light, Leyton Orient’s goalkeeper, Josh Keeley who is also a Tottenham loanee, had a great game, keeping City at bay throughout the ninety.
Early Verbruggen crossing error leads to own goal
In Saturday’s late FA Cup kick-off, Chelsea travelled to the AMEX for a highly anticipated Premier League team tie. It didn’t take long for the two-time Champions League winners to take the lead as Cole Palmer’s attempted cross flew towards Verbruggen. However, Verbruggen, instead of calmly catching the poor cross, got caught under it and half-punched into the back of his own net. ‘Cold’ Palmer wasn’t complaining as it gave his side a needed early lead. Luckily for Verbruggen, the Seagulls pulled off a comeback to progress to the next round of the Cup!
Hovarth saves Cardiff in shootout at the Bet365
Cardiff played Stoke this weekend in an FA Cup classic featuring in six goals. The Bluebirds took an early 2-0 lead before Stoke came back to lead 3-2 before the hour mark. Cardiff equalised not long later, and the game eventually went to extra time and then a penalty shootout. Every Cardiff player who stepped up to the spot executed their penalty perfectly. The away side's goalkeeper, Ethan Hovarth, denied Michael Rose’s penalty to win the shootout 4-2 and send the Bluebirds through to the next round.
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper prevails for Preston
Only two games in the FA Cup this weekend resulted in a penalty shootout, and Preston vs Wycombe was one of them. The game ended 0-0 and neither goalkeeper had much to do prior to the shootout. Penalties finally arrived after 121 minutes of football had been played and Preston, the home side, stepped up first. The first three penalties in the shootout were converted before Daniel Udoh’s penalty was denied by Freddie Woodman in the bottom left corner.
Woodman had spent eight years at Newcastle, only playing four times for the Magpies. After multiple loan spells, he finally became a permanent number one at Preston. Preston then made it 3-1, in the shootout giving them a solid advantage. Despite missing their next penalty, and fortunately for most in Deepdale Road, Woodman had denied another spot kick just seconds before which kept the score healthy for the hosts. Preston went onto win the shootout and Woodman was the hero.
Antonin Kinsky makes two Cup defining mistakes within three days
Antonin Kinsky of signed for Tottenham on the January 5th with Spurs in a goalkeeper crisis. Kinsky impressed in his opening games as he kept two clean sheets and made some vital saves in games against Liverpool and Tamworth. However, in the last week the Czech has made two mistakes which have contributed to his trophy craving side's exit from both domestic cups.
Firstly, Kinsky gave away a penalty in Tottenham’s second leg tie of the EFL Cup, after he wiped out Darwin Nunez. Salah stepped up and unsurprisingly slotted the penalty home. After that it was smooth sailing for Liverpool in front of the Kop. Fast forward three days, and Spurs travelled to Villa Park for their fourth round FA Cup game against Aston Villa. It only took one minute for the claret and blue side to score as Jacob Ramsey’s effort, despite being straight at the goalkeeper, went through Kinsky hands, off his knee and eventually in. In fairness to Kinsky, he made some great saves throughout the game, but it was his mistake which set the tempo for the rest of the game and another Cup exit for Big Ange’s tame Tottenham.
