Alan Velasco set up an MLS Conference semi-final tie against Austin FC after scoring the winning spot-kick for FC Dallas in Monday night's shoot-out, but his winning penalty has divided opinion.
Dallas were the home favourites against Minnesota United on Sunday night, but were frustrated by the visitors as they were held to a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The pair still couldn't be seperated in extra-time, setting up a tense penalty shootout.
But a miss from Minnesota from 12 yards meant that Dallas ultimately had the opportunity to win, and all Velasco had to do was score to send his side through. And even with the importance riding on his spot-kick, he decided to boast his confidence by performing an audacious Panenka penalty, and it worked.
The Panenka penalty continues to divide opinion, and although it's a perfectly legal technique, questions over whether it's respectful always spark debate, especially as the winning penalty in a shoot-out. For the taker, they can be left with egg on their face with a miss, but if the keeper is fooled then it can be a traumatic experience.
This time around, it was the Minnesota goalkeeper that was the victim, and to make matters worse it wasn't as if Velasco chipped his penalty straight down the middle. Instead, he chipped it towards the right-hand side where the keeper dived. The goalkeeper attempted to palm it away, and still missed.
Of course, Dallas were delighted, and the stadium erupted with joy as their MLS dreams live on. But some fans have branded the star as disrespectful for his actions.
"That's so disrespectful my god," one shocked fan said. "I’ve never understood this in a big game. Seems high risk, low reward when the expectation is to convert a penalty," another disappointed supporter added.
"He did him dirty right there," one fan claimed. And another gave sympathy to the opposition goalkeeper, as they said: "Wow, imaging your season is ended like that..."
But despite the critics, Dallas head coach Nico Estevez was proud of his player. "Some players have a special gene," Estevez said of Velasco after the game.
"He’s a competitor. He wants to win, he wants to make FC Dallas big. It’s not only the quality he gave to the team, it’s the work he does. It’s amazing."
Velasco only suffered an injury last month, but bounced back in style and played all 120 minutes against Minnesota, much to the belief of the boss. "I can’t believe he did it," Estevez added.
"I was worried, I kept asking him ‘how are you doing?’ He was mad at me that I kept asking. I said, 'I was trying to take care of you!' But he kept saying ‘I’m good! I’m running! Did you see that run?!’ It’s unbelievable."
