Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer produced a remarkable late display, saving three consecutive penalties to seal his side’s Europa League victory over Roma.
The French club had gone ahead in the sixth minute when Hákon Arnar Haraldsson pounced on a defensive mistake to score.
Roma were handed a lifeline in the 80th minute after Aïssa Mandi was penalised for handball. Substitute Artem Dovbyk stepped up, but his effort was saved by Özer. VAR, however, spotted encroachment by Romain Perraud, forcing a retake.
Dovbyk tried again, only for Özer to deny him a second time—though the keeper was adjudged to have advanced off his line too early. Roma then turned to Matías Soulé for a third attempt, but he too was thwarted by the inspired Turkish stopper, whose decisive intervention ensured Lille’s victory.
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted afterwards: “I’ve never seen three missed penalties in one match. It was an almost unique, random situation, which ultimately compromised the result.”
