A goalkeeper has been going viral on social media after he booted the ball away prior to an opposition striker taking a penalty.
Back in 2018, Niko Giantsopoulos, playing for Launceston City in the second tier of Australian football, decided to go to extreme lengths to get inside an opponent's head after his team conceded a spot-kick.
Goalkeepers attempting to throw strikers off their game from 12 yards isn't anything new but until now, we've never seen anyone do something like this.
With the ball placed on the spot, he smashes the ball away to kill even more time before the attacker takes his shot.
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The referee brandished a yellow card but when the penalty was actually taken, his antics worked a treat as he guessed right and made the save.
Giantsopoulos, who currently plays for Cavalry FC in his native Canada, explained to SPORTbible what the thinking was behind his decision and whether he would repeat the trick.
He said: "I got the idea from another goalkeeper actually. He did the same but it was during a shootout. I figured it worked for him so why not do it in the middle of the game.
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"I feel like the video always resurfaces every 6 months or so since the incident, but this time around I feel like it's reached the most amount of people so far. [It's a] cool feeling, I'm just glad everyone finds amusing.
"Usually I would say getting into an opponent's head isn't that important, at least for me, but during penalty's you'll do almost anything to maybe give yourself a couple percent more.
"Was it worth the yellow card, 100%, but will I do it again, never."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football
