Liverpool eliminated Chelsea from the Carabao Cup on penalties at Anfield, with defender Joe Gomez scoring the decisive goal. Gomez struck his penalty, the second-to-last in the shootout before Wesley Fofana's miss, powerfully into the top corner in front of the Kop stand.
Fofana then sent the ball high over the Kop in a sudden death attempt, ending Chelsea's run in the competition. Valentin Barco missed Chelsea's fourth penalty, hitting the post after a hesitant run-up.
Gomez scored his first senior goal of his career with that strike. In 319 professional appearances for Charlton Athletic, Liverpool and England, the 29-year-old defender had never previously scored. "Everyone is on the edge and we want to win. For me, it is a moment I have thought about and looked forward to. It was nice that it went in," Gomez told ITV.
Arsenal were also eliminated that evening by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, with Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes missing his penalty after a similar hesitant run-up. Guimaraes was one of 11 players who missed at this year's World Cup, where 26 penalties with a hesitation were recorded, but he did not change his approach against Fleetwood either.
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta commented on Barco's miss for ITV: "Every player chooses a style in which they feel safe, and for Valentin Barco I believe that is his way of taking it. I do not believe it was his first time, I hope it was not!" Former Liverpool and Chelsea defender Glen Johnson told ITV that he liked the technique because it gives players a little time, but added regarding Barco's penalty: "He has already beaten the goalkeeper, he does not need to hit the top corner. If he had sent the ball three centimetres to the right, you would have said it was the best penalty you had ever seen."
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told TalkSport that as a manager he would not allow such a style: "It is ridiculous, self-indulgent, a player who wants to be in the centre of attention. When they take a hesitation, they think the goalkeeper will move, but they do not go out that early anymore, they are not fooled that easily. It is naive."
According to FIFA rules, a player may stop or feint in the run-up as long as they do not do so immediately before striking the ball. Harry Kane attempted a hesitant run-up and missed, with his attempt saved by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in England's 4-2 victory. Because Livakovic moved off his line prematurely, Kane was awarded a retake and scored it with a direct approach. Brazilian Pele was known for the penalty with a hesitation, and Cristiano Ronaldo has used it both successfully and unsuccessfully. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez also frequently use that style.
