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Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio put in a remarkable display of quick thinking during his side’s draw against Atletico Mineiro in Brazil’s Serie A last week.
With 15 minutes to go the level of play was 1-1. Mineiro was awarded a free kick halfway through Corinthians’ half and the ball was clicked towards goal.
Cassio looked ready to take the ball, but at the last moment he jumped aside to let it go straight into his goal.
It was a truly bizarre moment when a few Mineiro players raised their arms to celebrate a goal, but there was a catch. It was an indirect free kick and no one else had touched the ball except the taker.
The goalkeeper realized this and didn’t even attempt a save as he didn’t want to risk dropping the ball at an attacker’s feet.
Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio deliberately let a free kick go straight into his goal
It was a moment of genius from Cassio who realized the goal wouldn’t count
Corinthians manager Mano Menzes gestured as his heart pounded and the ball went into the net
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By touching the ball he would have made the match ‘live’ again, but as he chose to get out of the way the match was restarted with a goal kick for Corinthians.
Cassio’s knowledge of the rules of the game went even over the head of Corinthians manager Mano Menezes, who gestured as his heart pounded as the ball first went into the net.
However, he had nothing to worry about as Cassio knew exactly what he was doing.
The 36-year-old shot-stopper has spent the last 12 years at Corinthians after returning from PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Eredivisie and the Dutch Cup.
Since then, he has won the Club World Cup in 2013, won the Serie A twice and was part of the Brazil squad that won the Copa America in 2019.
He has played a staggering 548 games for Corinthians, and all his experience came to the fore against Mineiro as he was the calmest man in the stadium when the match was on the line.