'How is that possible?': Football world loses it over absurd moment
Paris Saint-Germain squandered the chance to clinch the Ligue 1 title in record-equalling time on Sunday after a 2-2 draw at home to Strasbourg, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s incredible miss from on the goal-line costing his team dear.
PSG were handed the opportunity to win their sixth French crown in seven seasons after second-placed Lille drew 1-1 at Reims earlier.
That left Thomas Tuchel’s side knowing that three points at the Parc des Princes would see them retain the title and wrap it up with eight games to spare, matching the speed with which Laurent Blanc’s team became champions in 2016.
Choupo-Moting gave them an early lead with his third Ligue 1 goal, but later in the first half he somehow succeeded in turning a net-bound Christopher Nkunku shot onto the post while standing on the line.
“I wondered if I was offside and it all happened very fast. I touched the ball, it hit the post and, well, it’s a real shame because the ball was going in,” Choupo-Moting told Canal+.
“Sorry about that.”
Fresh from winning the League Cup last weekend, Strasbourg had equalised prior to Choupo-Moting’s howler when Nuno Da Costa turned in a Lionel Carole cross, and they found themselves 2-1 up in the 38th minute when Anthony Goncalves lashed home from 22 yards.
Kylian Mbappe came off the bench on the hour mark but it was another PSG substitute who made it 2-2 with eight minutes remaining. Julian Draxler sent in a corner from the right and Germany defender Thilo Kehrer headed home.
However, having drawn at home to PSG back in December, mid-table Strasbourg then held on for a point.
Cameroon international Choupo-Moting started with Mbappe rested and Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani all unfit — the latter watched from the stands sporting a beret.
‘How is that physically possible?’
“He is an excellent back-up player to have but if you start a lot for PSG you need to have confidence and he lacks that,” said Tuchel of Choupo-Moting.
“He was very unfortunate because he started very well and then he stopped that ball on the line which would have made it 2-1 for us.
“I don’t know why he did that. In English you say it’s Murphy’s law.”
Still a huge 20 points clear at the summit and with a game in hand, PSG will now hope to secure the eighth league title in their history when they go to Lille next weekend.
But Choupo-Moting’s howler won’t be forgotten soon.
Choupo Moting has really managed to miss from there….like how is that even physically possible????? pic.twitter.com/8zyF808uG2
— Jacob (@Ifcjacob) April 7, 2019
What’s is choupo-moting doing…..?! #psg pic.twitter.com/A3FDBExf7U
— Patrick Garvey (@garvey_patrick) April 7, 2019
Maxim Choupo-Moting with the worst miss of all time for PSG today pic.twitter.com/iFzFiItKAh
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) April 7, 2019
Is this the worst miss of all time? 😂
Eyebrows were raised when PSG signed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from relegated Stoke City…
But this is something else 👀 pic.twitter.com/zSudeXAl1b
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 7, 2019
You may never ever see a worse miss than this beauty from former Stoke striker Choupo-Moting…
It genuinely beggars belief 😱pic.twitter.com/OZBp6AJv6x
— BT Sport (@btsport) April 7, 2019
Oh Choupo-Moting…. Oh mate… pic.twitter.com/qhnDu7lKi7
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) April 7, 2019
Exceptional goal-saving clearance from Eric Maxim Choupo Moting, but AGAINST his own team. pic.twitter.com/y00B4h7pKu
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) April 7, 2019