Motagua Squeezes Past Comunicaciones in Penalty Marathon

I just posted about why I love the drama of this tournament not two days ago, and just 48 hours later we are gifted with an all time classic. The Concacaf League is a young tournament, but this has to be the wildest game in its history. Motagua trailed 2-0 in the 48th minute and looked absolutely toasted, but quickly fired back with two quick goals and looked to be en route to a furious comeback. The winner never came, and instead the teams went to penalties. About 35 minutes later, after 36!! spot kicks were taken, Motagua came out on top. Watch the whole thing here, if you'd like.

I have watched a lot of soccer in my time on this earth. I have watched plenty of penalty shootouts. And this was not only the longest I had ever seen in my life, this was the longest I had ever even heard of! 18 rounds?!? I recall Liverpool went something like 14 or 15 in the League Cup a few years ago, and that was the longest I knew of. And perhaps the title of craziest I've ever seen still goes to the 2015 AFCON final, when Ivory Coast's backup goalkeeper made a few huge saves and converted the winner in the 11th round, but I think last night's shootout has a case.

Gerardo Gordillo, a fine player on the Comunicaciones back line, had a chance to clinch it in the 7th frame. No luck. Oh well, it happens. What doesn't usually happen is getting a chance at redemption. He came up again in the 17th frame, with another chance to clinch it. Oh. My. Goodness. You already know what happened.

I did a little research on where this ranks among the longest shootouts of all time. I found that the 2005 Namibian Cup final went an impressive 24 rounds, apparently the world record. Now this is one I wish I could have seen; after 24 rounds KK Palace won it 17-16! How the heck did they miss that many and it still wouldn't end?

I also found that while that Namibian Cup game is the professional record, two teams in the Czech 5th Division final went on for 52 kicks back in 2016. Madness. Gordillo is certainly not the first player to miss twice in the same shootout, though maybe he is the first to miss two game-winners. But I wonder if anyone in either of these marathons actually missed three times? 

Anyway, penalties are pretty great. Are they the best way to settle a game? Maybe not. But are they the most fun? Oh yes, yes indeed.