Depay wears penance shirt after missed penalty in Copa Libertadores
On a cloudy evening in São Paulo, Corinthians striker Memphis Depay, who missed a penalty in extra time of the quarter‑final against Estudiantes, expressed himself via Instagram in a penitential manner, while he asked the club and its supporters for forgiveness.
First match and deficit
Corinthians played the first match of the quarter‑final ending in a 1‑1 draw. In the return leg at home, the Brazilian club faced a 0‑1 deficit, which increased the pressure on the striker.
Reaction and aftermath
In the 111th minute, Depay had the chance to equalise, but the ball flew to his horror over the goal. The missed shot led directly to Corinthians' elimination from the Copa Libertadores.
After the disappointment, Depay posted a message on Instagram in which he offered his apologies. He wrote: “I want to apologise to the supporters and to the millions of people who believed in our dream of winning the Copa Libertadores. I am really devastated.”
The Dutch striker emphasised that he had gone at the ball with full conviction. “The penalty that could have kept us in the match has become the biggest disappointment of my career so far. I was fully confident that I would strike the ball correctly, as I have done so many times in my career. But the outcome was unfortunately painful.”
Depay also said he understood and accepted the criticism. “I understand and accept all the criticism that is coming at this moment. But I will never give up trying to make history with Corinthians, and I want to bring the club back together with the team and the supporters to where the club belongs.”
After the match, Depay was tackled and walked with his shirt over his head to the dressing room. Coach Fernando Diniz emphasised that the Dutchman was not the only one at fault and praised his courage to take the penalty.
The elimination means the end of Corinthians' dream of winning the Copa Libertadores this season, a disappointment that will linger for a long time among the fans and the club.