Werner and Haller battle each other in Miss of the Season competition
Werner #Werner
Timo Werner and Sebastien Haller were both guilty of spurning guilt-edged chances to score on Saturday in two nightmare moments that are destined for miss of the season compilations.
West Ham striker Haller was left red-faced after an embarrassing slip prevented him from scoring against Manchester United, before Werner was also thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons in Chelsea’s clash with Leeds.
Olivier Giroud’s header at Stamford Bridge found its way to the unmarked Werner, who was stood just one yard out at the far post, but the frontman somehow failed to find the back of the net.
With Chelsea trailing after Patrick Bamford’s early opener, the hosts won a corner and delivered the set piece towards the presence of Giroud inside the packed box.
The towering target man delivered a deft flick across goal, an effort that may have even nestled into the far corner, which Werner opted to take down.
His first touch was superb, but the attempted finish on the follow-up will certainly be remembered as one of the worst ever in the history of the top flight.
Werner’s untidy poke towards goal arched up before striking the crossbar, allowing Leeds to scramble clear.
Haller may have departed the London Stadium somewhat relieved that the headlines are more likely to focus on Werner’s moment of madness just hours later.
The 26-year-old found himself played through on goal against United and managed to round goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Gallery: Chelsea Player Ratings: Rennes (A) (Read Sport)
He then hesitated while looking to shoot, however, and inadvertently ended up losing his footing.
Victor Lindelof failed to clear the danger after another foray forward from the hosts, allowing Haller to cleverly flick the ball backwards and then make a dash through the middle of United’s defence.
Play was allowed to continue under the new guidelines despite Haller potentially having strayed offside, and the frontman soon closed down the space between him and the goal.
Henderson, who started in the absence of David de Gea, rushed out to close the angle but was unable to prevent Haller from gliding silkily past him.
But with Harry Maguire and Lindelof having managed to scramble back on the line, Haller once again opted to cut inside.
The crucial moment came a second later, with Haller appearing to catch his own boot and tumbling to the turf.
One bemused person tweeted: ‘Amazing tackle by Haller on… Haller.’
Another joked that Haller was ‘doing his best (Anthony) Martial impression’, mocking the frustrating form of the United No 9.
A third added: ‘Nah, that Haller slip was horrible. That has to be the worst miss ever!’
A fourth user believes that the unfortunate frontman must have been ‘Ole In’.
Haller will have been left with an even more sour taste after watching United mount a stellar comeback in the second half.
Paul Pogba thundered in a long-distance strike to level the scores, before Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford also struck to pile the misery on the hosts.
Read more