Cristian Zavala Defended by Manager After Penalty Incident

Cristian Zavala, a player for Colo Colo, has received support from his manager following a peculiar incident in which he missed a ‘Panenka’ penalty and subsequently limped off the field with an apparent injury during a shootout.

In a friendly match against Uruguay’s Peñarol, Colo Colo triumphed 4-3 on penalties, but one particular penalty attempt gained considerable attention for its unusual nature. Zavala, just days after Brahim Díaz’s notorious failed Panenka at the Africa Cup of Nations final, attempted a similar shot but ended up chipping the ball directly at the goalkeeper. Following this, he humorously fell to the ground with an injury, which sparked skepticism among social media users who suspected the injury might have been exaggerated.

Colo Colo’s manager, Fernando Ortiz, defended Zavala, stating that the player had been nursing an injury prior to the match. “Zavala had a problem,” Ortiz commented. “I understand the desire to take a penalty; that’s just the kind of passion and anxiety Cristián possesses. However, I believe his emotions influenced his decision to take the shot. They are currently evaluating his condition, and I hope it’s nothing serious.”