Aguero ridiculed for HORRENDOUS Panenka penalty miss in Man City-Chelsea Premier League clash (VIDEO)
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero left coach Pep Guardiola fuming and was widely mocked online following a ridiculously-weak Panenka penalty attempt in a Premier League match against Chelsea that could decide the title.
In a rare start for the Argentine, who will leave at the end of the season following a highly-successful decade at the Etihad, the striker stepped up to take a spot kick on the stroke of half time when forward line partner Gabriel Jesus had been brought down by Billy Gilmour.
A few minutes before that, Raheem Sterling had put the Mancunians 1-0 up once a heavy touch from Aguero - after Jesus had stormed into the box - saw the ball spill out to the England international.
With City needing a win to lift their seventh top flight crown, Aguero could have arguably put the tie beyond doubt with his spot kick.
I love the commentary man .. "Aguero for City ..... Ohh Dear " 😂 pic.twitter.com/o6xpina5iQ
— Legend of Chelsea (@footballGodzila) May 8, 2021
Fluffing his lines miserably, however, he gave Edouard Mendy no trouble whatsoever when firing off a soft Panenka chip down the middle that barely reached the goal line.
Wisely not committing to a dive, Mendy merely had to stand on his feet to make an easy catch, and the developments caused Aguero's boss Guardiola to head down the tunnel for the interval in a furious huff.
Aguero watching back his penalty 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/8n8C9pSwNY
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) May 8, 2021
🗣"The PA-STINKER."🗣"I was cringing here." Jamie Redknapp & @MicahRichards sum up Sergio Aguero's missed panenka penalty at half-time pic.twitter.com/MWcUsPFAwa
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 8, 2021
Jokers online quipped that Aguero took the penalty as though wearing a hefty pair of Timberland boots.
On the other side of Manchester, though, they thanked him for trying to equal Wayne Rooney's club Premier League goals tally in such a bizarre manner.
It was also said that with his error, Aguero is pushing for a move to Chelsea when his contract expires after being linked with City's Champions League foes in recent weeks.
Aguero's clearly already decided he's moving to Chelsea 🤣
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 8, 2021
Edouard Mendy to Sergio Aguero after his failed Panenka attempt pic.twitter.com/BlatGduUPX
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) May 8, 2021
Edouard Mendy is the first goalkeeper to save a Sergio Aguero penalty in the PL at the Etihad since April 2016 (Maarten Stekelenburg for Everton).His first penalty save in the PL for Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/w5KDl9lmHZ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 8, 2021
Football snobs elsewhere remarked that "the only Panenka penalty kick that has ever looked good was taken by Antonin Panenka", in a nod to the creator of the move.
In the 1976 European Championship final, Antonin Panenka stepped up to take Czechoslovakia's fifth penalty under immense pressure with the score at 4-3.
With Uli Hoeness having skied over the bar, Panenka had to score to steal the trophy for his underdog outfit, and did so by feigning a shot to the right then gently chipping the ball down the middle.
📆 #OnThisDay in 1976The first "Panenka" penalty ever 😎pic.twitter.com/lSIltcFi4W
— Goal (@goal) June 20, 2020
Panenka was dubbed "a poet" for pulling off the masterpiece, and Andrea Pirlo did a worthy tribute act at the same competition in 2012 against England during Italy's run to the final.
There they were trounced 4-0 by Spain, and playing in defense that day was Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos who has often borrowed it himself.
After fluffing two penalties against Switerzland in a 1-1 Nations League draw in November however, the last one of which was a horrible, low Panenka, he hasn't tried since.
Now, Aguero's effort joins it in the growing group of terrible homages.