The week’s most absurd soccer moments

By Sam Patterson

Goalie Itumeleng Khune’s butterfingers gave Mauritania an early lead, and South Africa’s AFCON qualifying campaign went running face first into a brick wall. [source: streamable]

We’re not quite sure what Michael Kokocinski, a defender for TSV Munich’s reserve squad (in the German 4th tier), was thinking with this back-pass. [source: The Mirror]

It seems like the referee was playing favorites, and Mallorca’s Lucas Alvedano lost. [source: 101greatgoals]

We will never stop loving John Anthony Brooks’ past exploits for the USMNT, but we can chastise him for this mortar of a shot against Peru. [source: Eat My Goal]

It speaks to Italy’s form that striker Antonio Candreva felt the need to unveil this shameful piece of simulation against lowly Malta (while clinging to a paltry 1–0 lead in the 87th minute). [source: Bleacher Report]

First Gareth Bale had to endure friction with Madrid’s rabid fan base. Then this weekend he faced a jinx from part-time warlock Tal Ben Haim that sent his free-kick over the bar. [source: imgur]