He hit the first of three shots. By opening the scoring, at the very end of the first period, on the pitch of the Vélodrome stadium, Wednesday during the 7th and penultimate day of the league phase of the Football Champions League, Dominik Szoboszlai was one of the architects of Liverpool’s important victory (0-3) against Olympique de Marseille, who had nevertheless managed to resist the attacks for 45 minutes.
Taking advantage of a free kick from 25 meters caused by a mistake as obvious as it was avoidable by Leonardo Balerdi, the Hungarian midfielder of the Reds found the opening at ground level on the left of Gerónimo Rulli, totally helpless on this shot (0-1, 45th + 1). A goal full of mischief…
Szoboszlai took advantage of the absence of a player lying behind the Marseillais “wall” to slip the ball under their feet. A great inspiration but also the fruit of upstream work and a discussion with his teammate Mohamed Salah, back from the CAN.
“Yes, I had done my homework,” smiled the good student at the microphone of TNT Sports when the journalist asked him if he had prepared his move. I was told that if no player lay down, I might have a chance to shoot under the wall. No one laid down so I tried and yes, it worked. »
A “stupid first goal” for Roberto De Zerbi
A “stupid first goal” regretted the Marseille coach. “No one went to bed, we organized ourselves this way… The goalkeeper was listened to, he preferred that there be none,” lamented Roberto De Zerbi. But at that moment, if there is no “crocodile” you should not jump. The first period was played with the desire to make the play, but we did not understand where the play was.”
The “crocodile” technique, or movement, consists of putting a player on the ground in a horizontal position in order to minimize the risk of conceding a goal from a direct free kick.
Now 19th in the standings before the final day of the league phase, Marseille will have to win next week on the pitch at Club Brugge to secure their ticket for the play-offs of the competition.
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