How’s he missed that!? The worst misses in sports history
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Even the world’s best athletes are human, so mistakes are bound to happen. However, over the years, we’ve seen some of the best in their respective sports slip up and miss the simplest of chances. From football to golf, we’ve looked back at some horrendous misses in sporting history, here are just a few of them.
Dele Alli
In the grand scheme of things, Dele Alli’s miss wasn’t too costly as Spurs went on to hammer Stoke City 4-0. However, after a wonderful, free-flowing move from Spurs, Alli did well to dummy Shay Given but somehow managed to hit the post with the goal wide open.
Stevie Johnson
The Buffalo Bills took the Pittsburgh Steelers to overtime in the 2012 season. In the NFL, a touchdown in overtime ends the game and as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw the ball to Johnson, everyone in the stadium thought the game was over until the receiver inexplicably dropped the pass. The Steelers went on to win the game.
Patrick Ewing
In game seven of the 1995 Eastern Conference semi-finals, the New York Knicks trailed to the Indiana Pacers as time was about to expire. Ewing had the easiest of layups to force overtime but somehow he missed, meaning the Knicks were knocked out.
Scott Norwood
The Buffalo Bills again! This time in Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants were winning the game 20-19 when the Bills had a 47-yard field goal to win the title. Kicker Scott Norwood hit the shot wide right and once again, the Bills suffered defeat.
Darren Bent
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said after the game that his missus could have scored the chance that Darren Bent missed. He had a free header from six yards out to win the game against Portsmouth but somehow headed it wide.
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson missed a 12-foot putt to win the 2015 US Open, which was bad enough, but somewhat understandable. However, he had a four-foot putt to force a playoff but he somehow missed that too, allowing Jordan Spieth to take home the title.
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs once scored one of the greatest FA Cup goals of all time against Arsenal. Unfortunately, in 2003 against the same opponents, he produced one of the worst misses in the competition’s history. With the game at 0-0, Giggs dribbled past David Seaman and with the goal wide open in front of him, he hit his shot against the bar. Man United ended up losing the game 2-0.
Blair Walsh
With seconds to go in the playoff game with the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings got into position to kick a game-winning field goal from just 27 yards out. It should have been a routine kick but somehow, Walsh missed it and the Vikings were eliminated.
Yakubu
At the 2010 World Cup, Nigeria were down 2-1 to South Korea when Yakubu was presented with the ball about two yards out with an open goal but somehow, he hit his shot wide!
Don Fox
In the last minute of the 1968 Challenge Cup final. Wakefield had a conversion in front of the posts to win the trophy. However, Don Fox missed it and Leeds won 11-10.
Fernando Torres
Chelsea were trailing 3-1 at Old Trafford when, in the 83rd minute, Fernando Torres rounded United goalkeeper David de Gea only to somehow slice his shot into the Stretford End.
Gavin Hastings
With the score tied at 6-6 in the closing stages of the 1991 Rugby World Cup semi-final against England, Gavin Hastings had an easy penalty to put Scotland 9-6 up. However, he missed it and England went down the other end and claimed victory with a Rob Andrews drop-goal.
Matt Giteau
Australia scored a try against Scotland to reduce their deficit to just one point and Matt Giteau had the chance to put the Aussies ahead with a conversion. However, he missed it and Scotland earned a famous win.
Kanu
West Brom were trailing 2-1 against Middlesborough in November 2004 when the ball came across to Kanu, who was no more than two yards from goal. Somehow, he managed to hit it over the bar and West Brom went on to lose the game.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
It’s no exaggeration to say that Paris Saint-Germain’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was guilty of the worst miss in the history of football. In a game that could have secured the Ligue 1 title had they won, PSG ended up drawing with Strasbourg as the former Stoke City striker hit the post when the ball was on the goal line and actually heading over the line. Choupo-Moting tried to steal the goal, but inadvertently diverted it onto the post and the ball was eventually cleared.