The sideline ball has to be thrown directly into the penalty area from the sideline, which is a very long distance and most people can't throw it over.
Only Lu Wenbin has enough physique and strength to give it a try.
However, throwing it from such a distance obviously wouldn't be very accurate.
In addition, Lu Wenbin did a somersault, which made it even more difficult to aim. He had no accuracy and could only throw the ball wherever it landed without deliberately looking for his teammates' spots.
Fortunately, after throwing the ball out, looking at the direction of the ball's flight, it was still roughly heading towards Barcelona's penalty area, so Lu Wenbin felt a little relieved.
Then, he stretched his neck and stared at the penalty area, hoping that Ibrahimovic, Jancker and others in the penalty area could get the first point and head the ball in.
If a goal could be scored at this time, it would definitely be a last-second winner.
Seeing the ball thrown by Lu Wenbin with a somersault going straight to the penalty area, the fans of both teams in the stands became nervous.
Hoffenheim fans hope that their players can head the ball in, while Barcelona fans hope that their players can clear the ball.
The players from both teams in the restricted area also started pushing each other, everyone wanted to get the first point.
However, after the ball flew a high parabola in the air, Valdes found that the ball was actually flying towards the back of the goal and it seemed that it would fall directly into the goal.
As a goalkeeper, Valdes' first reaction was not to let the ball go into the goal.
So, Valdes didn't think too much about it, and quickly took two steps back, preparing to jump and kick the ball out.
However, Ibrahimovic, Nilson and Puyol in the penalty area also judged where the ball would land and all rushed to the back point and jumped.
Ibisevic and Nilsson naturally wanted to head the ball in, Puyol wanted to clear the ball, and everyone's eyes were only on the ball, and they didn't see Valdés who moved on the goal line to save the ball.
Of course, as opponents, Ibisevic and Nilsson will not give up even if they see Valdés.
Four people jumped up at the same time and huddled together behind the goal. Valdes was able to take the initiative with his hands and touched the ball over Ibrahimovic's head.
However, because he was separated from Puyol who jumped at the same time, Valdés could not stretch his hand far enough despite his best efforts and could only touch the ball with his fingers.
Moreover, he failed to tip the ball over the crossbar, but only touched it, and then the ball changed direction slightly, hit the inside of the far post, and then bounced into the net.
Afterwards, Ibrahimovic, Nilson, Puyol and others fell down and crashed into a ball.
German commentator Dickenson suddenly screamed excitedly: "Tooooooooooooooooor..."
"The ball goes in, the ball goes in! Lu Wenbin threw the ball directly into the goal from the sideline!"
"A decisive goal! A decisive goal! Lu Wenbin scored a hat trick in the last minute of stoppage time to help Hoffenheim defeat Barcelona!"
The Hoffenheim fans in the stands were all boiling with excitement, making deafening cheers and screams, and the Hoffenheim players on the field were also ready to run wildly to celebrate.
But everyone found out that the referee didn't blow the whistle to indicate that the goal was valid. Barcelona captain Puyol also stood up and shouted at the referee: "Lu Wenbin's goal cannot be counted. A sideline shot does not count as a goal!"
Ibisevic and others nearby were stunned for a moment.
"A throw-in doesn't count as a goal. What's the rule?"
For players who don't understand this unusual rule, they really don't know whether a throw-in counts as a goal.
But Salihovic knew, and he reacted quickly, and immediately rushed over to the referee and said: "This ball was not a sideline ball that went directly into the goal, Valdes touched the ball, it should be counted as a goal!"
The players from both sides immediately held different opinions and started arguing around the referee.
Lu Wenbin, who thought that the sideline ball had accidentally gone in to defeat Barcelona, was preparing to celebrate when he discovered that the referee had not blew the goal whistle. Then his teammates and opponents surrounded the referee and started arguing with him. He didn't understand what was going on and quickly ran over.
Dickenson in the commentary booth shouted for a while before realizing that the referee had not awarded a goal. He was confused for a moment, then he remembered that according to FIFA football rules, a sideline kick does not count as a goal.
If the starting point of a throw-in is outside the designated playing area of the field, how is a goal counted
This type of ball is an indirect free kick, and the goal will only be valid if someone on the field touches the ball and enters the goal.
After thinking of this, Dickenson recalled that Valdez seemed to have touched the ball just now. So, someone also touched the ball
So does this ball still count as a goal
Dickenson discussed the goal with other commentators in the commentary booth. He of course insisted that the goal was valid, but the Spanish commentator insisted that Lu Wenbin's shot was a direct shot from the sideline and should not be counted.
On the field, the referee, who encountered this situation for the first time, was a little hesitant.
The difficulty of this goal was that Lu Wenbin's sideline ball flew directly into the goal. Although Valdes touched the ball in the middle, the referee was confused as to whether it was touched outside or inside the goal line.
Did the ball cross the goal line in its entirety before Valdés touched it
If the ball had already crossed the goal line before Valdes touched it, and Valdes simply scooped the ball over the goal line and bounced it onto the goal post and into the goal, the goal would not be counted.
Although the probability is not high, in a split second, the referee really couldn't tell whether the ball fell into the goal first and then was hit by the goal post by Valdes and then bounced into the goal.
Moreover, Valdes is the goalkeeper, and his touching the ball is different from other players' shots or own goals. Does it count as a touch by a player on the field
After thinking about it, the referee came up with an idea.
However, he still needs to confirm it.
He separated the two arguing players and told everyone to stop arguing. He ran to the sideline to find the linesman and asked for his opinion.
The linesman told the referee with certainty that the ball did not cross the goal at the moment Valdes touched the ball, and was still outside the goal line. Valdes touched the ball before it entered the goal.
After listening to the linesman's opinion, under the nervous gaze of countless people at the scene and in front of the TV, the referee took a deep breath, pointed his finger at the center circle, and blew the whistle to signal that the goal was valid.
Then he blew the whistle to end the game.
With a loud “Wow…”, all Hoffenheim players and fans were excited. The Hoffenheim coach and players on the sidelines also rushed into the field and celebrated wildly.
In the last second of the European Super Cup's extra time, Lu Wenbin threw in a long-distance sideline ball and scored a goal directly, performing a hat trick to help Hoffenheim beat Barcelona 4-3 and became the king of Europe in 2009!
Barcelona's players and fans were very dissatisfied. The players wanted to find the referee and ask him to revoke the decision, while the fans cursed the referee in the stands, but it was all in vain.
Regardless of whether the referee's decision is right or wrong, the game is over.
There is no doubt that Lu Wenbin's goal from the sideline will definitely become the focus of discussion and breaking news around the world after the game.
It's so rare!