SUMMARY
- On March 11, 2024, Feyenoord won its 18th game of the 23/24 season by beating Heracles Almelo.
- However, the players used a trick against the Heracles Almelo goalkeeper.
Feyenoord has been flying in the Eredivisie for the last couple of seasons. The team from Rotterdam is on the back of a title-winning season in 22/23, winning the league for the first time in 5 years. The team plays an extraordinary brand of soccer under the manager, Arne Slot. The team won its 18th game of the 23/24 season by beating Heracles Almelo on March 11, 2024.
Santi Gimenez and Igor Paixao playing rock paper scissors to see who shoots the free kick 🇲🇽😅
Paixao 🇧🇷 won and scored the third goal for Feyenoord!
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) March 10, 2024
However, the highlight of the game was the little rock-paper-scissors game between striker Santiago Gimenez and left-back Quilindschy Hartman. However, the aftermath of the game between the duo will shock the fans.
Feyenoord players trick goalkeeper to score a brilliant free-kick
In the 73rd minute of the game, the team from Rotterdam were awarded a free kick. The free kick was given at a very tight spot, and naturally, every Feyenoord player wanted to take it. The prominent names were Quilindschy Hartman and Santiago Gimenez, who were both left-footed and at odds over the free kick. However, the dispute soon died down as the Mexican striker won the rock-paper-scissors game to take the free kick.
But there were more twists to come in the tale. Santiago surprisingly gave away the free-kick duties to winger Igor Paixao, who was right-footed. Perhaps this is what confused the Heracles goalkeeper. The goalkeeper had prepared himself for a left-footed shot from Santiago, and hence Igor’s free kick confused him. Santiago and Hartman’s genius plan helped Igor Paixao calmly place the ball in the bottom left corner.
Feyenoord looked unstoppable on the night. Santiago Gimenez exploited Heracles’ high backline to good use, making threatening runs and causing problems. Besides Gimenez and Paixao, Yankuba Minteh was the third scorer for Feyenoord on the night. Feyenoord are undefeated in their last 5 league games, and with 59 points from 25 games, they are PSV Eindhoven’s (69 points) only challenger.
Frank Ribery and Toni Kroos have also used the game to decide a free-kick
However, Santiago Gimenez and Quilindschy Hartman aren’t the first duo to decide a matter on the pitch via rock-paper-scissors. Toni Kroos and Frank Ribery also used this game to settle a free-kick dispute while playing for FC Bayern Munich. The incident occurred in a Bundesliga game against Hertha Berlin in March 2012.
The Bavarian team won a free kick in the 24th minute. Toni Kroos and Frank Ribery both looked eager enough to take the free kick and hence decided to settle the matter through rock-paper scissors as Arjen Robben watched on. Frank Ribery won the game but missed the opportunity to score. However, FC Bayern was not too unhappy with the missed free kick, as it went on to win the game 6-0.
Throwback when Bayern Munich stars Franck Ribery and Toni Kroos cannot decide on who takes a free-kick.
What do they do? Play Rock, Paper, Scissors right in the middle of the pitch to decide. 🫲
Legends! 😍 pic.twitter.com/6ESeLngp0R
— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) January 4, 2024
However, Toni Kroos and Frank Ribery’s plan was not as complicated as that of Gimenez and Hartman’s. Such little episodes of soccer players are humans after all who love to have fun during their work. The fans should not let the players act out in this manner sometimes since it’s all part of the beautiful game. A positive environment inside the dressing room increases the bonding within the team and helps with the team’s chemistry.