Deepdale was the venue for the longest penalty shootout in English football history on Tuesday night.
Following a 1-1 draw after normal time in their Carabao Cup third round clash, Fulham and Preston North End combined for a record-breaking 34 penalties, with an astonishing 31 of them going into the goal.
Excluding FA Cup qualifiers, this was the highest-scoring penalty shootout ever in a major English domestic competition, surpassing the 14-13 result between Derby County and Carlisle United in the 2016 League Cup.
This reflects a modern trend, with the five highest-scoring shootouts all taking place within the last 13 years, perhaps indicating an increased attention to detail during shootouts – something that certainly was the case for Fulham, according to manager Marco Silva, but it didn't pay off.
“We are always preparing,” the manager told Fulham's media channel. “When we play in these competitions it is part of our daily routine to prepare for penalties. Sometimes we do it repeatedly – not just once with one player, but twice with the same goalkeeper. But preparing in training is one thing, but when it comes to penalty shootout decisions in a competition, it's another thing.”
For Fulham, the drawn-out shootout battle surpassed their miserable night at Aldershot in 1987 in what was then called the Freight Rovers Cup. They lost 11-10 after 28 penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Gordon Davis, the club's record scorer, had two penalties in the shootout, missing both. For Preston, the result is better than their 10-9 win over Oldham in the 2014-15 Johnston's Paint Trophy.
The result was a major upset for Paul Heckingbottom's Championship side, who beat last season's semi-finalists. Ryan Ledson also scored a superb half-volley in the dying seconds of the game and then converted the winning penalty after Fulham's Timothy Castagne's shot had gone over the bar. Reiss Nelson was one of 11 changes to Fulham's side from Saturday's draw with West Ham, and he also scored a goal in the dying seconds of the game.
“The level of penalty play was really high,” Heckingbottom told Preston's YouTube channel. “When the match went on so long and you were trying your hardest to take it to penalties and they were running it up at 9-9, 10-10, 11-11… the longer it went on the more I wanted to win the match so I'm really pleased to finish it on a good note.”
To commemorate this historic occasion, Athletic In keeping with style, here is a breakdown of every penalty taken on that special night at Deepdale.
1st place: Raul Jimenez. Fulham. Score — 0-1
Jimenez scored the opening goal. He took a long run of about 10 yards, side-stepped to the left before approaching the ball and fooling goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. It would happen a few times to both goalkeepers…
2nd place: Ben Whiteman, Preston. Score — 1-1
Preston captain Whiteman gets the point for the home team. A quicker run-up, a little hesitation and then a powerful shot to the right of the goalkeeper. Steven Benda heads to his right but can't get close to the goal.
No. 3 Sasa Lukic. Fulham. Score — 1-2
Woodman advanced to the right, but Lukic's penalty kick was kicked low and hard to the goalkeeper's right, just out of reach.
4th place. Sam Greenwood. Preston. Goals — 2-2
The shortest run-up ever. Probably a dangerous moment, perfect territory for a pitch to be mocked…
There's never any doubt. Hard and low to Benda's right. The keeper can't get any closer. An ominous standard has been set for now.
5. Sander Berge. Fulham. Score — 2-3
High to Woodman's right. Second penalty, the keeper goes to his right but can't reach it.
No. 6. Jeppe Ockels. Preston. Score — 3-3
Winger Ockels stretched out and aimed for the ball over the top, but it was close to the side netting. top The corner kick found the back of the net, and Benda headed to his right, but to no avail.
7th place. Alex Iwobi. Fulham. Score — 3-4
Iwobi's penalty is high enough for the goalkeeper but he does the hard part and misdirects Woodman, who gives the goalkeeper a little smile. The story continues.
8. Alistair McCann. Preston. Points — 4-4
No save possible, midfielder McCann smashes the ball high into the air, blinding Benda.
No.9 Ryan Sessegnon. Fulham. Score — 4-5
Sessegnon had a bit of a nervous moment as he looked at the goalkeeper and sent a pass the wrong way.
He walked over to Woodman and put his finger to his lips in celebration. So far, neither team's goalkeeper skills have worked.
No. 10 Milutin Osmajic. Preston. Score — 5-5
Preston striker Osmagic had the fewest touches of the ball in the game, but he made the most of them. 10/10 for the team's best shooting player. Pretty perfect overall. Now, on to sudden death and those who didn't like it…
No. 11. Timothy Castagne. Fulham. Score — 5-6
At this point, it was a good night for Castagne. He smashed the penalty high to the goalkeeper's right, who sent it the wrong way. The visitors pumped their fists. Keep it up, Timothy.
No. 12 Ryan Ledson. Preston. Score—6-6
It's just like the Castagne penalty. It's too high to stop. The goalkeeper goes the wrong way. He can't get close.
No. 13 Emile Smith Rowe. Fulham. Score — 6-7
Fulham's club-record signing took the first penalty of the night, a slightly dangerous one. Woodman got in the right direction and almost got his hand out, and the speed of the penalty meant the ball was sucked into the net, but the goal was pinpointed into the corner.
#14 Liam Lindsay Preston Score — 7-7
Many of Preston's penalties are aimed high – spectacularly audacious. Fulham goalkeeper Benda appears to have leapt over the ball. Centre-back Lindsay's penalty was closer to the centre than the corner, but it was just beyond the helpless Benda. Preston's players are not under pressure to score a second goal.
Number 15 Issa Diop. Fulham. Score — 7-8
Diop took two steps to smash the ball into the back of the net, the ball slipping past Woodman before he could dive in. A truly elite centre-back penalty. The audacity is astounding. And if Diop is scoring great goals, this run isn't likely to end anytime soon.
No. 16 Jordan Story. Preston. Score — 8-8
Storey went up high and put the ball into the top corner, Benda was in the right direction but couldn't keep it out even if he had anticipated it correctly, it got to the point where questions start to be asked about the goalkeeper… It could be a long night for Carabao as they open the can.
No, 17. Jorge Cuenca. Fulham. Saved — 8-8
That's how a centre-back penalty should be taken. No pointless diving for the top corner. Woodman dives low to his left to flick the ball away. Big fist-bump celebration. Now it's time to end the shootout…
#18 Kane Kessler Hayden Preston save — 8-8
After 10 miserable minutes of flailing around the six-yard box, both goalkeepers suddenly had goals in hand. This penalty was awful. Kessler Hayden could have ended the game, but his spot kick was too straight and flew into the middle.
Number 19, Budou Godot. Fulham. Score — 8-9
And then… normal service resumes. Woodman dives the wrong way. Godot, a young man of 19, is clearly unhappy with Woodman and goes to him, just like Sessegnon, to “shut him up.”
No. 20 Andrew Hughes. Preston. Score — 9-9
Everyone was expecting this goal, and centre-back Hughes once again fooled Benda, making sure both goalkeepers saw to the kick.
No. 21. Steven Benda. Fulham. Score — 9-10
Benda took a hell of a penalty kick, sending it into the top corner. This might suggest he's better at taking penalties than saving them! Next up is Woodman…
No. 22. Freddie Woodman. Preston. Score — 10-10.
The same goes for Woodman: Benda takes a wrong turn and Woodman hits him hard and low. The show goes on and the number one contender, Taker, returns…
#23 Raul Jimenez Fulham Score — 10-11
Taking two penalties in the same game is risky – obviously not at Deepdale – and Jimenez changed his run-up, added a second stutter and also smashed the ball into the top corner, just out of reach of Woodman, who predicted the right direction.
No. 24 Ben Whiteman. Preston. Score — 11-11
It's not much fun when the goalkeeper takes the penalty. Benda was close to the goal here, stretched his leg out to kick and the ball went straight in. He thought this penalty would match the standard set in the first half of the shootout. It was some clever mind-games from Whiteman.
Number 25. Sasa Lukic. Fulham. Score — 11-12
Lukic took the penalty in the same direction, and Woodman remembers it well. It's unfortunate that Lukic smashed the ball into the top corner. Continue.
No. 26 Sam Greenwood. Preston. Score — 12-12
Greenwood's superb penalty beat Benda at full speed. Manager Heckingbottom and his staff are sniggering on the touchline. Not amused by the parents in the stands who have to make it to bedtime. Not amused by the hundreds of Fulham fans who have to travel 190 miles once shooting practice is over.
27 Sander Berge. Fulham. Score — 12-13
Berge tried to hit the ball like Diop does, but he just let it slide into the net. It wasn't a corner, but it didn't matter as Woodman took a wrong turn and fell to the turf. Now that's certainly in painful territory for a goalkeeper. Good thing I'm not playing for the Astros.
No. 28. Jeppe Ockels. Preston. Score — 13-13
Ockels Razor–sharp The penalty will keep us going. Sorry.
No. 29 Alex Iwobi. Fulham. Score — 13-14
Iwobi's uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha, had a penalty saved by Brazilian legend Dida at the 1996 Olympics. Iwobi doesn't miss. Read on:
No. 30 Alistair McCann. Preston. Score — 14-14
At this point, we need a handicap. Perhaps each penalty should be moved back a yard? It feels kind of pointless having goalies at this point. They're not even close on these kicks. Crossbar challenge, anyone?
No. 31 Ryan Sessegnon. Fulham. Score — 14-15
How about luck? Sessegnon tried to shut Woodman up earlier, but the Preston goalkeeper was on his side here. The ball hit the post, off Woodman's back and into the goal. Does this mean the goalkeeper scores two goals? Is it an own goal? If so, goalkeepers have scored more goals than they have saved…
No. 32. Milutin Osmajic. Preston. Score — 15-15
I liked the old school MLS penalty, a dribble from the halfway line. Maybe throw in a defender and make it a 1v1 scenario. Either way, every first choice kicker took two penalties and scored. Preston was really good, taking 11 penalties and scoring when they would have lost.
No 33. Timothy Castagne. Fulham. Miss — 15-15
Finally, after 33 penalties, there was one that was completely off target. Castagne totally missed it, it was high and wide, totally not meeting the criteria for a penalty in this shootout.
Clearly, this shootout was not decided by the goalkeeper's saves.
No. 34 Ryan Ledson. Preston. Score — 16-15.
The game was over and Preston's scorer sealed the victory in normal time, as he fooled Benda and produced a magnificent shoot-out win.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
