When it comes to football, there are a lot of reasonably obscure rules that we do not see applied at the top level all that often. Indirect free-kicks inside the penalty area are a prime example.
We are all fairly familiar with the rules that would result in such a decision. The one that immediately springs to mind is a goalkeeper handling a pass from his own teammate, while goalkeepers holding onto the ball in their hands for too long is another scenario where you may see that outcome.
While those are the two most common examples of such an indirect free-kick being awarded, even they are incredibly rare to see at the top level. Considering that, we're not sure if we have ever seen one given in the circumstances that arose during the game between the USA and Ghana.
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Bizarre indirect free-kick awarded in USA vs Ghana
The USA faced Ghana in a friendly in Nashville last night, running out as comfortable 4-0 winners. All four goals would come in the first half, with Borussia Dortmund man Giovanni Reyna bagging a brace.
The second of those goals came via an indirect free-kick, with Reyna finishing brilliantly into the top corner.
GIOVANNI MY OH MY pic.twitter.com/l5yFpIPpqP
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 18, 2023
However, it was the passage of play that led to that indirect free-kick that has piqued our interest.
While you might have expected it to come via a time-wasting goalkeeper or a dodgy back pass, the incident actually did not involve the goalkeeper at all.
Instead, it was awarded when a Ghana defender blocked a cross into the box before trapping the ball in between his legs and refusing to let go. You can watch the passage of play in question below.
— Logan Thein (@LoganStLouis) October 18, 2023
A strange one.
A player doing that in a top level game is certainly a strange sight, with an indirect free-kick being awarded as a result an even rarer occurrence.
You will probably have to wait quite a long time before you see another goal scored in those circumstances.
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