There’s a fine line between great goalkeeping and bad shooting. ADO Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit toed that line on Saturday. Four times Den Haag sent shots toward Kortsmit’s goal, four times the Dutch keeper knocked the shot away, a Kortsmit quadruple save.
But was it great goalkeeping or poor shooting? Both? Neither? Decide for yourself.
Sparta goalkeeper Roy Hordsmit makes 4 point blank saves in a matter of seconds against ADO Den Haag. pic.twitter.com/KOXycb9svP
— Ball Street (@BallStreet) September 24, 2017
Kortsmit does well to keep the ball out of his own net, but on each shot he deflects the ball back into play, allowing Den Haag another bite at the cherry, because we all know it takes multiple bites to down a cherry. At the same time, Den Haag’s shots all went straight at Kortsmit. The toughest save came when a shot was twice deflected, once from going straight at him to heading toward the corner and then again deflected right toward his face. Instead of holding onto the ball, Kortsmit makes a meal of it (more cherries?) by sending it back into play for another shot attempt.
You can make the argument at the very least it was poor defending, with Sparta unable to clear the ball until after Kortsmit's fourth save in five seconds.
Fortunately for Den Haag, Abdenasser El Khayati had already scored a few minutes earlier, which was enough for a 1-0 win, the club’s second of the year to leapfrog Sparta in the Eredivisie table.
Kortsmit has been trying his best to make a name for himself this season. Earlier this year he saved two penalty shots in a minute. But he ranks middle of the league in terms of total saves and his team sits one spot above the relegation zone. His real problem, however, is his own team’s offense, which has scored a league-low four goals. Perhaps they’ve been practicing by shooting straight at Kortsmit every day.
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