Crossbar challenges are good fun, a nice way to show off soccer skills. But Jean-Philippe Gbamin is taking the idea a bit too far. The Mainz center back launched a 60-yard lob off the post on Saturday — during a Bundesliga match against Freiburg.
Gbamin won the ball midway inside his own half, turned upfield and immediately spied the goalkeeper off his line. Unfortunately for Mainz, Gbamin chose to hit the ball off the post for a rebounded pass to teammate Kenan Kodro instead of going for goal. The pass found Kodro perfectly, but the forward’s header was right at keeper Alexander Schwolow, who was able to easily make the save.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Freiburg won the match 2-1.
The victory was the second of the year for Freiburg, which sits in 16th in the relegation playoff spot. Mainz meanwhile dropped to 13th.