Maarten Stekelenburg
Maarten Stekelenburg
City in a spot of bother
Manchester City failed to win at home for the first time this season after a superb performance by Everton’s goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg. The Dutch keeper made a string of impressive saves and saved two penalties. In the first half, City did most of the attacking and Stekelenburg made a great fingertip save from Kevin De Bruyne as well as a penalty save from the same player. In the second half, Everton took the lead against the run of play, through Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium international scored his 6th goal of the season in the 64th minute with a great finish, but City continued to press and won a penalty a few minutes later. Again it was saved by Stekelenburg - this time it was Sergio Aguero who failed to hit the target. Eventually, City found an equaliser through Nolito. City continued to press for a winner but Everton’s defence and Stekelenburg stood firm. 
The goalkeeper, Stekelenburg, maybe had the game of his life. Everton manager, Ronald Koeman.
What do we know about Maarten Stekelenburg?
Maarten Stekelenburg was born on 22 September 1982 in Haarlem, in the Netherlands. Haarlem is a small city which is about 15 minutes away from Amsterdam by train. Stekelenburg joined Ajax, the most famous club in Dutch football, when he was 15 years old and grew up watching his hero, Edwin van der Sar from the touchline. He would eventually replace van der Sar in the Dutch international team. Stekelenburg won two Dutch League titles before moving to Italy to play for Roma. He spent two seasons in Italy and then moved to the Premier League to play for Fulham. It wasn’t a successful time for the goalkeeper in London, Fulham were relegated and he was dropped from the team. Moves on loan to Monaco, in France, and then to Southampton followed. At Southampton, he was signed by fellow Dutchman, Ronald Koeman, to cover an injury to Southampton’s regular goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. When Koeman moved to Everton last summer there was no hesitation when he made Stekelenburg one of his first signings for the club.
It's not only guesswork for the penalties. It's the analysis as well. Maarten Stekelenburg, talking after his penalty saves against Mancheter City.
Which keeper has made the most penalty saves?
Last weekend, Maarten Stekelenburg became only the seventh goalkeeper to save two penalties in the same Premier League match. Stekelenburg dived to his left both times and it was a successful guess as he made the stops to get Everton a point. But, who is the best at saving penalties? Watford’s goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, is the only player to save two penalties in a match twice. He saved twice for Watford against West Brom last season and in 2010 he saved two penalties against Sunderland, when he was playing for Tottenham. David James is the keeper who has made the most penalty saves in Premier League history. He saved thirteen spot kicks while playing for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth. But, if we talk about percentages (%) then Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet is the most successful. Mignolet has saved five of the eleven penalties he has faced (45%), ahead of famous goalkeepers such as Arsenal’s David Seaman (32%) and Manchester Utd’s Edwin van der Sar (26%).
How to save a penalty?
Do you think it is just luck when a goalkeeper dives the right way? About three-quarters (75%) of spot kicks are scored so it’s not easy for a keeper to make a save. What do you think is the best thing for a keeper to do when facing a penalty? Here are our top tips:
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Do your homework
Before the match, analyse your opponent's penalty taker(s). Which way did he shoot before? Does he have a specific run when he shoots one way rather than the other?
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Come off your line
If you step off the goalline, it will narrow the angle and make it more difficult for the penalty taker. Now, this is against the rules, but a referee rarely penalises a goalkeeper for it. Is it cheating?
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Put off the penalty taker
Jump up and down on the goalline, do a dance, make silly faces. Do everything you can to distract the penalty taker. Again, this is not very sporting but is it cheating?
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Always be on your toes
If you are standing on your toes you will be ready to dive. If you are on your heels, you might be too slow and the ball will be in the net before you react.
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Make eye contact
Looking at the penalty taker is important. Show him that you are confident of saving the penalty. Also, the penalty taker often looks subconsciously at the part of the goal he will put the ball, or he may look at the opposite corner to try to trick you!
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Pretend to dive one way
If you move to one side a little, the penalty taker may think you are going to dive that way and put it to the opposite side. Be ready for this!
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Stay in the middle of the goal
Most penalties are saved when the keeper stays in the middle of the goal or dives when he sees the ball. Don’t show the penalty taker where you will dive.
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Watch the standing foot
The standing foot is the foot that doesn’t kick the ball. This foot often points the way that the penalty taker will shoot. Look at this foot and dive the way it points!
Can you remember this?
Do you recognise the photo below? Well done if you do. It is a photo of Andres Iniesta scoring the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup Final. Sports photos often show great contrast. On one hand, we have the joy of Andres Iniesta, who has just scored the goal that has won the World Cup. On the other hand, we have the despair of the goalkeeper who has just conceded that goal. We often don’t know or care who the losers are in the photo. In this case, you probably won’t be surprised to know that the goalkeeper is Maarten Stekelenburg. He made a number of fantastic saves in the match and was just four minutes away from a penalty shootout where he could have been the hero and could have won the World Cup for the Netherlands.
How much Football English did you learn?
There was a lot of football vocabulary in this article. Try the quiz below and test your understanding of football vocabulary. You can find all the answers in bold in the text above.
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What do you think?
Maarten Stekelenburg made two penalty saves against Manchester City. Who do you think is the best goalkeeper at saving penalties?
Should a striker always score a penalty? Is a goalkeeper just lucky when he saves a penalty?
What do you think about our tips for saving penalties? Which is the worst/best tip?
Leave a comment
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Comments
06/10/2022
points
Goalkeepers shouldn't have to be expected to save in all positions.No more chances when faced strikers. Defence line have to be firm.
06/10/2022 17:07
Tottenham Hotspur
5557
Goalkeepers shouldn't have to be expected to save in all positions.No more chances when faced strikers. Defence line have to be firm.
27/06/2020
points
The tips for saving penalties are awesome and very helpful for goalkeepers.
The best tip for me is to be always on your toes to have a quick reaction and to be flexible in your respond to the spot kick.
27/06/2020 01:36
Manchester United
6536
The tips for saving penalties are awesome and very helpful for goalkeepers.
The best tip for me is to be always on your toes to have a quick reaction and to be flexible in your respond to the spot kick.
27/06/2020
points
A decent striker should score all the penalties and I think it's just 50% luck when the goalkeeper saves a penalty and the other 50% is concentration and confidence.
27/06/2020 01:34
Manchester United
6536
A decent striker should score all the penalties and I think it's just 50% luck when the goalkeeper saves a penalty and the other 50% is concentration and confidence.
27/06/2020
points
I think Tim Krul , the Norwich City goalkeeper is amazing at saving penalties and Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City as well.
27/06/2020 01:32
Manchester United
6536
I think Tim Krul , the Norwich City goalkeeper is amazing at saving penalties and Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City as well.
28/01/2017
points
I think they are perfect.the most important is to distract the strker.
28/01/2017 12:03
Liverpool
3705
I think they are perfect.the most important is to distract the strker.
28/01/2017
points
A striker has to score a penalty,because it is easier for him to score than the keeper saving it.
28/01/2017 12:02
Liverpool
3705
A striker has to score a penalty,because it is easier for him to score than the keeper saving it.
28/01/2017
points
I think it is simon mignolet
28/01/2017 12:00
Liverpool
3705
I think it is simon mignolet
06/11/2016
points
He is a brave goalkeeper and he make eye contact to the striker.
06/11/2016 07:50
Burnley FC
242
He is a brave goalkeeper and he make eye contact to the striker.
24/10/2016
points
I' ve found interesting info about Diego Alves from Valencia. Here it is abridged :
(c) A serial killer instills fear in people’s minds and the same can be said when the rest of the footballers hear the name of Diego Alves. He has made a reputation for himself with his exploits in front of goal when it comes to saving penalties. Alves has let in only 19 penalties from the 39 he has faced, a stat which no goalkeeper has matched in a quarter of a century nor has anyone boasted of such a high percentage. His reflexes, hours dedicated in practicing, time spent on studying opponent’s strengths or just his reputation of being the wall in front of goal – everything seems to be working in his favour. He has a habit of winding up opponents, taking his time and waiting as long as possible before committing himself. "It's great that players fear taking penalties against me," said Alves on his remarkable exploits. "I try to wait as long as I can before committing, and put doubt in the taker's mind. And by contrast, I never have any doubts."
24/10/2016 19:32
Liverpool
6573
I' ve found interesting info about Diego Alves from Valencia. Here it is abridged :
(c) A serial killer instills fear in people’s minds and the same can be said when the rest of the footballers hear the name of Diego Alves. He has made a reputation for himself with his exploits in front of goal when it comes to saving penalties. Alves has let in only 19 penalties from the 39 he has faced, a stat which no goalkeeper has matched in a quarter of a century nor has anyone boasted of such a high percentage. His reflexes, hours dedicated in practicing, time spent on studying opponent’s strengths or just his reputation of being the wall in front of goal – everything seems to be working in his favour. He has a habit of winding up opponents, taking his time and waiting as long as possible before committing himself. "It's great that players fear taking penalties against me," said Alves on his remarkable exploits. "I try to wait as long as I can before committing, and put doubt in the taker's mind. And by contrast, I never have any doubts."
23/10/2016
points
The best goalkeeper at saving penalties is Simon Mignolet of Liverpool with an outstanding 45 % saves rate.
A striker should usely shoot penalties for his team. But in some case there is one player which is not a striker like Mahrez for Leicester who benefits from the spot shots. Some player are afraid when they have to do this shoot like Thiago Silva for Brazil especially when its the finishing test for winning a title.
The tips described above are very interesting. All is in the connection between mind and physical reacting.
23/10/2016 15:30
Manchester City
3988
The best goalkeeper at saving penalties is Simon Mignolet of Liverpool with an outstanding 45 % saves rate.
A striker should usely shoot penalties for his team. But in some case there is one player which is not a striker like Mahrez for Leicester who benefits from the spot shots. Some player are afraid when they have to do this shoot like Thiago Silva for Brazil especially when its the finishing test for winning a title.
The tips described above are very interesting. All is in the connection between mind and physical reacting.
23/10/2016
points
Best tip for saving a penalty is coming off your goalline as it narrows the post.
23/10/2016 00:12
Manchester United
4779
Best tip for saving a penalty is coming off your goalline as it narrows the post.
24/10/2016
points
It's not allowed.
24/10/2016 19:01
Liverpool
6573
It's not allowed.
23/10/2016
points
Goalkeepers aren't just lucky when they save penalties because they try to read the direction of the ball from the effectors facial expression.
23/10/2016 00:10
Manchester United
4779
Goalkeepers aren't just lucky when they save penalties because they try to read the direction of the ball from the effectors facial expression.
23/10/2016
points
As expected strikers should score most of their penalties but unfortunately, its not that easy i must confess as i am sometimes facced with such situations during football matches. On average am able to score 7 out of 10 penalties.
23/10/2016 00:08
Manchester United
4779
As expected strikers should score most of their penalties but unfortunately, its not that easy i must confess as i am sometimes facced with such situations during football matches. On average am able to score 7 out of 10 penalties.
23/10/2016
points
I think claudio bravo is the best keeper at saving penalties
23/10/2016 00:05
Manchester United
4779
I think claudio bravo is the best keeper at saving penalties
21/10/2016
points
Making eye contact with the penalty taker is important. It not only shows him that you are confident but, if, at the same time, you watch the standing foot, chances are fifty-fifty IMHO. You should, of course, possess great physical condition first of all. :-)
21/10/2016 19:26
Liverpool
6573
Making eye contact with the penalty taker is important. It not only shows him that you are confident but, if, at the same time, you watch the standing foot, chances are fifty-fifty IMHO. You should, of course, possess great physical condition first of all. :-)
21/10/2016
points
Great Goalkepper
21/10/2016 18:03
Arsenal
18
Great Goalkepper
21/10/2016
points
The most unique brand of showmanship was Bruce Grobbelaar's style on the goal line. So called 'wobbly-legged penalty' from '84...
21/10/2016 16:04
Arsenal
3557
The most unique brand of showmanship was Bruce Grobbelaar's style on the goal line. So called 'wobbly-legged penalty' from '84...
21/10/2016
points
Gianluigi Buffon is one of the best goalies at saving penalties. No, the penalty should be taken by the players with good technics, usually it's not a defender. Good tips. Best tip: watch the standing foot.
21/10/2016 15:58
Arsenal
3557
Gianluigi Buffon is one of the best goalies at saving penalties. No, the penalty should be taken by the players with good technics, usually it's not a defender. Good tips. Best tip: watch the standing foot.
24/10/2016
points
(c) Long considered to be the best goalkeeper in the world, Gianluigi Buffon has found himself in some massive penalty situations throughout the years. Buffon's biggest penalty save probably came in Euro 2008, where he was able to stop a penalty from Adrian Mutu to keep Italy in the tournament and deny Romania a historic win.
24/10/2016 19:15
Liverpool
6573
(c) Long considered to be the best goalkeeper in the world, Gianluigi Buffon has found himself in some massive penalty situations throughout the years. Buffon's biggest penalty save probably came in Euro 2008, where he was able to stop a penalty from Adrian Mutu to keep Italy in the tournament and deny Romania a historic win.
20/10/2016
points
Correct me. Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. Teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it makes a deal, he very often confuses strikers in such a way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dymamo Kyiv as a first-choice goalkeeper.
20/10/2016 15:24
Watford
4417
Correct me. Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. Teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it makes a deal, he very often confuses strikers in such a way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dymamo Kyiv as a first-choice goalkeeper.
25/10/2016
points
Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. The teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it helps, he very often confuses strikers in such way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dymamo Kyiv as the first-choice goalkeeper.
25/10/2016 10:05
Watford
4417
Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. The teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it helps, he very often confuses strikers in such way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dymamo Kyiv as the first-choice goalkeeper.
26/10/2016
points
Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during a World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. The teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in the penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it helps, he very often confuses strikers in such way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dynamo Kyiv as the first-choice goalkeeper.
You've corrected most of the mistakes yourself which is great! Self-correction is one of the best ways to learn. I've highlighted two examples above. In the first, we use the indefinite article (a,an) because we are talking about World Cup penalty shoot-outs in general and then in the second we use the definite article (the) because we are talking about a specific penalty shoot-out that we have mentioned already.
Hope that helps!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
26/10/2016 08:49
Liverpool
594
Ukrainian goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy is famous for saving penalties. He is the only goalkeeper not to concede a goal during a World Cup penalty shootout which happened in 2006 in ‘round of 16’ game against Switzerland. The teams drew 0-0 and Ukraine won 3-0 in the penalty shootout. Shovkovskiy famous stile is to pretend to dive one way and to jump another. And it helps, he very often confuses strikers in such way. Now he is almost 42 but he is still playing for Dynamo Kyiv as the first-choice goalkeeper.
You've corrected most of the mistakes yourself which is great! Self-correction is one of the best ways to learn. I've highlighted two examples above. In the first, we use the indefinite article (a,an) because we are talking about World Cup penalty shoot-outs in general and then in the second we use the definite article (the) because we are talking about a specific penalty shoot-out that we have mentioned already.
Hope that helps!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
20/10/2016
points
You are correct, Liubomyr, in laying out facts. :-) Grammar is quite correct too. Some articles are missing; nevertheless, it doesn't hinder comprehension.
20/10/2016 18:13
Liverpool
6573
You are correct, Liubomyr, in laying out facts. :-) Grammar is quite correct too. Some articles are missing; nevertheless, it doesn't hinder comprehension.
20/10/2016
points
I totally agree with you, Alex. The only phrase that causes a little bit of confusion is 'make a deal'. What do you mean here, Liubomyr? Alex, you are also right about articles (a, an, the). Liubomyr - do you think you could highlight some of the articles that need to be changed?
Cheers
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
20/10/2016 21:07
Liverpool
594
I totally agree with you, Alex. The only phrase that causes a little bit of confusion is 'make a deal'. What do you mean here, Liubomyr? Alex, you are also right about articles (a, an, the). Liubomyr - do you think you could highlight some of the articles that need to be changed?
Cheers
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
25/10/2016
points
Thank you Rich and Alex for your help. I tried to make some changes but I’m still not confident about the articles (((
25/10/2016 10:06
Watford
4417
Thank you Rich and Alex for your help. I tried to make some changes but I’m still not confident about the articles (((
24/10/2016
points
Thanks, Rich, for your comment. Congrats on Liverpool's progress ! :-) YNWA
24/10/2016 19:06
Liverpool
6573
Thanks, Rich, for your comment. Congrats on Liverpool's progress ! :-) YNWA