After tiptoeing towards Sevilla FC, Yassine Bounou is gradually establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe in addition to having become an indisputable holder with the Sevillian club.
Usually he is primarily decisive with his hands.
This Saturday night, he used another part of his body, much more unexpectedly, to save his team.
The Moroccan goalkeeper, mounted to bring the excess in the opposing area during a final corner, was well placed when the ball fell and took advantage of a scramble to score with a flat with his left foot.
[⚽️ GOAL VIDEO] 🇪🇸 #LaLiga
😱🤯🤯🤯 Sevilla goalkeeper Bono equalizes in the last second against Valladolid!
⚡ A shot in the box, in the 94th minute! Https: //t.co/Yajr9KEaeY
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) March 20, 2021
The result jeopardizes Sevilla's hopes of returning to the podium race in La Liga, four points behind third-placed FC Barcelona, who are playing a late game against Real Sociedad on Sunday.
But the Sevilla players, until then led by a club in the fight for maintenance (16th, 27 pts), celebrated the exceptional equalization of their goalkeeper as a victory.
"It was the last action of the game and it gives us a taste of happiness," Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said after the meeting.
"A goal from a goalkeeper is not common."
Yassine Bounou is Sevilla's first goalkeeper to score a La Liga goal, but he's not the first this season to score in the Spanish top flight: Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic converted a penalty against the 'Atlético Madrid in January.
His fate changed with Vaclik's injury
Bounou is a very complete goalkeeper with an impressive placement.
His fans praise his ability to always feel the game, which allows him to be very strong in the duel, in the one on one.
Relegated to the Andalusian sidelines when Tomas Vaclik imposed himself as number 1 in the eyes of Julen Lopetegui, the 29-year-old goalkeeper, loaned last season by Girona, did not meet, then, unanimity among the Whites and Reds .
The Sevillian management did not want to keep him at the end of his loan.
But the fate of the player trained at Wydad Casablanca changed one evening in July 2020. Facing Eibar, the Czech goalkeeper injured his knee.
The opportunity for Yassine Bounou to seize his chance and settle in the goal.
Eight months later, it wouldn't occur to anyone to question their number 1 status.