THE Champions League’s youngest ever keeper gifted Napoli a goal just 123 seconds into his European debut for Genk.
Maarten Vandevoordt, 17, dallied over a backpass and was tackled by Arkadiusz Milik – setting the Polish striker on the way to a 38-minute hat-trick as Napoli won 4-0.
Poor Maarten Vandevoordt is caught out before he has even got into his stride in the game as Arkadiusz Milik pounces in the third minute
Teenage history-maker Maarten Vandevoordt blundered as he gave Arkadiusz Milik his opener as Napoli won 4-0Credit: AFP or licensors
Previous-youngest Champions League No1 Mile Svilar carried the ball into his own net on his big night in 2017 – from a Marcus Rashford free-kickCredit: Reuters
But previous record holder, fellow Belgian Mile Svilar, also marred his historic night – as the competition’s youngest ever scorer of an OWN GOAL in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Benfica in October 2017.
Vandevoordt has already won six Under-19 caps and is tipped for a huge future.
But he must have felt as low as Group E bottom side Genk when what could have been an early confidence-boosting touch turned into a costly blunder in the middle of his six-yard box.
Vandevoordt had no blame for Milik’s second goal but conceded his treble-clinching penalty as Napoli qualified for the knockout stages as runners-up to Liverpool.
And he might wince too at the fourth goal – as Dries Mertens completed the Italians’ rout with a ‘Panenka’ spot-kick on 74 minutes.
RASH ERROR
At 17 years and 287 days, Vandevoordt easily became the youngest stopper in Europe’s top club tournament.
Svilar was 52 days past his 18th birthday when he made his own expensive error.
He carried Marcus Rashford’s 35-yard free-kick into his own net midway through the second half two winters ago.
Svilar’s career has certainly spluttered since then.
But both he and Vandevoordt can take inspiration from the third youngest ever keeper to play in the Champions League.
Iker Casillas enjoyed his big night for Real Madrid aged 18 years and 118 days, against Olympiakos back in September 1999.
Two decades later, Casillas can reflect on 167 caps for Spain, plus three Champions League titles and five la Liga crowns with Real.
Now 38, he is with Porto, albeit his career in doubt while he recovers from injury.
So the example of Casillas should be the No1 reason for Vandevoordt to remain optimistic for the ’20s and ’30s!
Belgiam keeper Maarten Vandevoordt endured a tough champions league debut, aged 17 years and 287 daysCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
