Player sacked for failing to score Panenka spot kick

Taking a penalty takes real nerve, and any player who steps up to the plate to smash the ball home from twelve yards has our upmost respect. It may seem easy, but mastering the age-old technique of successfully converting a spot-kick is a complex task only executed to perfection by few.

Harry Kane and Luka Milivojević are two prime examples of penalty god's in the modern game, while former Burnley and Preston midfielder Graham Alexander fooled almost every keeper he faced with his dead straight run-ups before completely leathering it into the top corner or down the middle.

You would never catch the above mentioned players attempting a Panenka penalty though, especially our Graham, he probably doesn't even know what one is. These extravagant pen's are for the ultra-confident, modern players, oozing with skill, style and class, often taking up position in that creative number 10 role just behind the striker, you know the ones.

Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi are two great examples of players who have executed the Panenka in recent times - Hazard in the final of the EFL Cup against Manchester City (ballsy bastard) and Messi in Barcelona's Champions League last-16 tie against Lyon at the Nou Camp.

Both scored and looked really cool, which has now paved the way for a number of wannabe world beaters trying their hand at the skilful dink, named after Czechoslovakia's Antonin Panenka following his penalty against West Germany in the 1976 European Championship's.

A few weeks ago, Vancouver Whitecaps' Ali Adnan attempted one against LA Galaxy and completely fucked it up, making himself look a right doughnut in the process.

Last night however, in the last-32 of South America's equivalent of the Europa League, a player named Bendrix Parra also tried it, and also missed, but faced dire consequences afterwards as he was sacked by his side - Paraguayan outfit Independiente Campo Grande.

Parra's missed spot-kick had cost his side a space in the last-16 of the competition, as their opponents, Columbian side La Equidad, progressed through after knocking Grande out 4-3 in the shootout.

“The board made the decision because his way of taking the penalty was very irresponsible.

“We are all responsible for not reaching the next round of the Copa Sudamericana but it’s true that there was some upset in the group and they blame him,” said Independiente president Eriberto Gamarra after the match. What an absolute shitter.

To really rub salt in the wounds, goalkeeper Diego Novoa actually scored his penalty after saving Parra's. Nightmare.

If any clubs are looking for a Venezuelan midfielder on a free, you'll most likely find him wandering the streets of Paraguay licking his wounds. Probably best not to get him on penalties, though.