Watch: Berke Özer saves three penalties in unprecedented Europa League drama
Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer etched his name into Europa League lore by saving an astonishing three consecutive penalties in the final minutes of a dramatic 1-0 win over Roma. His triple heroics secured three points for the French side after a penalty award descended into pure chaos, defying all expectations and ultimately deciding the match.
Lille secured a memorable 1-0 victory against Roma in the Europa League, thanks entirely to the incredible, history-making performance of goalkeeper Berke Özer. The Turkish international became an instant hero by saving three consecutive penalty attempts in the dying moments of the match, an event Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini called "an almost unique, random situation."
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🇹🇷 ONUN ADI ❝BERKE ÖZER!❞ İNANILMAZ!!! 🧤🤯
— TRT Spor (@trtspor) October 2, 2025
TAM ÜÇ KEZ PENALTI KURTARDI! 😵
⛔️ 82. dakikada penaltıyı kurtardı.
⛔️ Penaltı tekrarlandı, yine kurtardı. Ancak ayağı çizgide olmadığı için bir kez daha tekrarlanmasına karar verildi.
⛔️ Tekrar edilen penaltıyı da kurtardı. pic.twitter.com/99T34EMfEa
Lille took the lead early through Hakon Arnar Haraldsson's sixth-minute strike after he capitalized on a defensive error. However, the drama truly began in the 80th minute when Roma was awarded a penalty for a handball by Aissa Mandi, giving the hosts a golden opportunity to equalize.
The penalty chaos
What followed was a sequence of events rarely, if ever, seen in European football:
- Attempt One: Substitute Artem Dovbyk took the first spot-kick, but Özer pulled off a great save. However, the referee ordered a retake after VAR determined that Lille defender Romain Perraud had encroached into the area.
- Attempt Two: Dovbyk stepped up again, only for Özer to deny him once more. The celebrations were short-lived, as VAR intervened again, ruling that the Turkish keeper had stepped off his line too early.
- Attempt Three: With Dovbyk likely shaken, Matias Soule took responsibility for the third attempt. Yet, Özer completed his astonishing hat-trick of saves, denying Soule to secure the 1-0 victory for Lille.
Roma manager Gasperini was left in disbelief after the match, lamenting the decisive chaos: "I've never seen three missed penalties in one match. It was an almost unique, random situation, which ultimately compromised the result." Özer's unbelievable triple save ensured Lille walked away with the crucial three points in one of the most memorable finishes in recent Europa League history.
