When a goalkeeper makes a mistake it feels as if their world has come crashing down all at once, in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday evening with the scores locked at 1-1 in extra-time Reading keeper Adam Federici allowed a Alexis Sanchez effort to squeeze underneath his body and into the net.
SEE ALSO:
FIFA regulations could see Alexis Sanchez miss FA Cup final for Arsenal
Premier League & FA Cup team of the weekend: Arsenal & Aston Villa heroes dominate, plus Blues youngster
La Liga star tells agent to make Arsenal transfer happen
The howler eventually cost the Royals the game and a chance and the possibility of a penalty shoot-out against Arsenal and while others rally around the Australian international it is worth remembering that all goalkeepers make mistakes.
From the Gianluigi Buffon’s to Simon Mignolet’s of this world, they all have a error in them and some have been messed up on the biggest stage.
Take a look at four costly mistakes from those in between the sticks:
4) David Seaman vs Brazil (2002 World Cup quarter-final)
Whilst the former Arsenal man will go down as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Seaman was known to be liable to make a mistake or two in his playing days.
He was caught out by a long-range Ronaldinho free-kick against Brazil at the 2002 World Cup which would eliminate the Three Lions at the quarter-final stage.
3) Scott Carson vs Croatia (Euro 2008 qualifier)
England needed a win or a draw against Croatia in their final Euro 2008 qualifying match but Scott Carson’s early error from a Niko Kranjcar shot at Wembley sent the visitors on the way to a 3-2 win.
Not only did the mistake cost the Three Lions a place at the Euros, then-manager Steve McClaren was sacked shortly after.
2) Robert Green vs USA (2010 World Cup group stage)
It may seem like we are picking on England keepers here but it’s just that they seem to make high-profile mistakes in crucial games.
This gaffe happened at the 2010 World Cup as Rob Green somehow let a tame Clint Dempsey effort slip from his grasp and squirm over the line in their opening game in South Africa.
It cost the Three Lions two points as they drew 1-1 and ended up finishing second in the group and proceeded to be embarrassed by Germany in the first knockout round.
1) Wojciech Szczesny vs Birmingham City (2011 league cup final)
Ironically Federici’s opposite number on Saturday in Szczesny also made a mistake in the game but it will likely be forgotten due to what happened later on and it wasn’t the first time he had made a gaffe at Wembley
Cast your minds back to the 2011 League cup final where Arsenal were looking to win their first piece of silverware in six years against a struggling Birmingham City side.
In the 89th minute the Polish international got into a mix-up with Laurent Koscielny and the ball broke kindly for Obafemi Martins to convert into a empty net and give the Blues a shock 2-1 win.
It cost the Gunners a trophy and they had to wait another three years to finally end the drought.