Torres miss takes its place as one of the worst ever

HAPLESS Chelsea striker Fernando Torres produced such an extraordinary miss against Manchester United that it immediately became a candidate for admission into the pantheon of all-time goal-mouth cock-ups. In the absence of all mitigating factors - clean through, six yards from an empty net with a slow-moving ball on a perfect pitch - Torres's grotesque slice takes some beating, and gains points for coming in a high-stakes encounter. But can he claim the crown of worst miss ever? Watch these and decide for yourself.
 
1. Ronnie Rosenthal (LIVERPOOL V Aston Villa, 1992)
Previously the gold standard in anti-marksmanship, this established the phrase "doing a Rosenthal" in playgrounds all over the country. Rocket Ronnie had enough time in front of the empty net to think of a good celebration but somehow scooped it onto the bar and away to safety. To his credit, the Rocket wasn't fazed and became a cult hero at Liverpool and later Spurs.
 
2. Diego Forlan (MANCHESTER UNITED v Juventus, 2003)
The Messi of missing. Forlan inspired a lucrative industry for the Old Trafford street vendors who made a mint from 'I saw Forlan score' merchandise. Last year's winner of the World Cup Golden Ball for best player had to suffer during his stay in Manchester. It took him 26 games to find the net and in this friendly with Juventus, he showed why. Running straight at an empty goal, he managed to shoot wide.
 
3. Rocky Baptiste (HARROW BOROUGH v Waltham Abbey, 2009)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, or classic comedy if you're not from Harrow. Baptiste is running directly into the goal but takes a wrong turn at the post and bashes it behind with conviction. To his credit he goes on to net a solo stunner in the same game but if he'd scored seven it still wouldn't have erased the image of this baffling miss.
 
4. Aiyegbeni Yakubu (NIGERIA v South Korea, 2010)
We'll be kind. The goalkeeper should have got a hand to the ball and the Yak probably wasn't expecting it but we think even Fahad Khalfan (see below) would have buried this. Nigeria's hulking front man has forged a well-earned reputation as a reliable scorer at the highest level and Arsenal fans will wish he could have shown some of this form on Saturday.
 
5. Fahad Khalfan (QATAR V Uzbekhistan, 2010)
The 2022 World Cup hosts have understandably kept this off their promotional material. The previously unknown Khalfan shot to fame off the back of this mortifying moment, running across the unprotected goal-line, only to lose his compass and screw it against the far post. The follow-up effort would have been embarrassing on another day but benefited from comparison. ·