When teams try a cheeky, tricky, or straight outrageous play from a set piece nine times out of ten it ends up working against their favor and usually ends up in a hilarious blooper worthy of a SportsCenter “Not Top 10” play.
But in the 32nd minute of Gent’s Champions League fixture against Lyon, they actually pulled off a cheeky attempt during a set piece that ended in a goal.
In a play that you would probably see in a Captain Tsubasa anime, Gent lined up to take the free kick from a little more than 20 yards away but three Gent players lined up right in front of the ball. Once the official blew his whistle, the three players sprinted towards goal and Danijel Milicevic took his kick as the distracted Lyon wall looked befuddled by what was going on.
Anthony Lopes, the Lyon goalkeeper, must have surely been even more bewildered by the training ground play as the reacted late to the kick and dove only to watch the ball curl its way into the net for the Gent equalizer.
Just take a look magnificently drawn up play:
What was that!? Gent’s cheeky free kick routine pays off as Danijel Milicevic levels vs Lyon. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/ShYw2Tj158
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) 24 novembro 2015
Truly, a cheeky attempt by Gent. Might want to use that play again in the season to test it’s true capability.