Bruno Versaven didn’t rip open the Sint-Niklaas net with his penalty kick - unless you’re living in a Roy of the Rovers fantasy world. But if you want comic book action, Walter Baseggio’s ferocious left-footed volley against La Louvière on 6th November 2004 is a good place to start.
As Anderlecht struggled to overcome a one goal deficit, the ball fell to the unmarked Baseggio. Keeping the rest of his considerable frame surprisingly still, he took a contemptuous swing at adidas’s bouncing baby, sending it hurtling towards goal. This remarkable clip shows the ball in its death throes; it takes a last sorry breath as it crosses over the penalty spot.
Baseggio’s goal sent Anderlecht on their way to all three points - nearly five months later! La Louvière objected to the ball’s ailing condition as it zipped beyond their ‘keeper. A protest was lodged and protracted deliberations followed: The Belgian FA ordered a replay; Anderlecht protested; the referees’ association fought the good fight and supported their man; the FA did an about-turn and, in the end, the smaller club backed down.
KV Turnhout line up against FCN Sint-Niklaas at a mist-shrouded Stadpark. I assume that it’s mist; I can’t imagine that Belgians would indulge in the sort of civil disobedience required to bring a pall of flare and firework smoke down over the ground.
The incident of interest is KV’s first-half penalty, awarded after Tom Moons is brought down on the edge of the area. Bruno Versavel takes the spot kick and sends the ball crashing off an advertising hoarding, before wheeling away in an apparently misguided celebration.
But what he could see and we can’t is that the ball went between the posts, bursting the net in the process. At least that’s what we’re supposed to believe, and that’s how the incident was reported, because it makes for a better story.
There’s no way the force of that shot caused the breach. It was more of a pass than a strike. A much more likely explanation is that the net wasn’t anchored properly.
The referee’s decision was even more unusual than the dodgy onion bag: after a protracted discussion with the players, he changed his mind and awarded the goal.