Photo – 24
“Cute female sport” is one way to describe a goalkeeper’s glove landing squarely on a teammate’s face in the middle of a header. The ball is still floating nearby like an innocent bystander, while the players are discovering that teamwork can occasionally be very aggressive. It is not elegant, but it is spectacularly timed.
What makes the photo so good is the total lack of subtlety. Everyone is focused on the play, nobody has time to brace, and the camera catches the exact second the challenge turns into accidental friendly fire. Soccer has produced many dramatic moments, but this one belongs to slapstick.
