Photo: Earl Gardner. All screenshots taken from MLSsoccer.com
Six secondsis all it takes to undo 90 minutes of good work.
A fraction of a second can undo six seconds.
Philadelphia Unions Andre Blake got it all right with his fantastic late save Saturday to secure Philadelphia Unions 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Here is video of the save with two alternate angles.
When a goalkeeper makes an amazing save, there was usually a defensive breakdown somewhere along the line that led to it.
Here, Gaddis and Bedoya have a miscommunication, allowing an uncontested cross. Jack Elliott is marking nobody. Medunjanin is upright and behind the play, taking himself out of the play. Thats four of the seven defenders here.
Sapong defends the late runner, tracking all the way back. Wijnaldum fights for position with the back man. Onyewu gets in the ready position between the ball and the target men.
Andre Blake leans to the near post, defending it from a surprise shot and getting in good position to smother a low/close cross before it reaches the target men.
With the cross in the air, there are now three defenders against three attackers.
This leaves two men free for the header against Blake.
Blake recognizes that the out-swinger is floating too far outside the box for him to get to and immediately starts to sink back to the goal line, keeping his eyes on the play in front of him and maintaining ready position as he retreats.
Blake does two very difficult things here.
At the time the shot is struck, Blakes heels are just about on the goal line. Most importantly for Blake, his weight is on his left foot and he is on his toes. He is anticipating a shot to his right, and by putting his weight on his left foot, he is ready to dive hard and fast to his right.
This is why it is so key for Blake to read the players rather than the ball. Blake was able to cut out half of the net by keying on the head movement. Heading an out-swinger to the far side of the net would have required a head whip that Blake never saw. Unlike the penalty save, which required a guess, Blake was not guessing on this shot. He read the player and was able to identify where the shot could go.
The alternate angle shows just how free the header was and just how out of position the Union defenders were. Its also a little easier to see Blake already leaning hard to his right. Thats as free as a header gets, and from about 7.5 yards out.
These saves are practically impossible. Lamar Neagle knows that if he puts the shot on frame with power, it is going in unless he strikes it directly into Blake. Even a foot or two away from where his body already is and theres no time to react.
Lamar Neagle does his job perfectly. He heads it on frame, with power, high and to the side of Blake. Easy goal.
Enter Superman.
Words cant describe just how insanely hard this save is. If this were the Olympics, Blake would get a 10 for degree of difficulty alone. Keepers just dont save power headers from that range. This save may have been Blakes best ever, and that is not hyperbole. It shows off the full range of Blakes tools: his height and length, his athletic ability, his instincts, his reaction speed, and his hand strength.
Blake prepared properly. He got to the right spot and got in the ready position leaning the correct direction. As the ball is struck, he uncoils and contorts his body and gets his hand way up above his head in about a quarter of a second.
Despite the ball going to his right, Blake reaches to it with his left because of his ready position. He was ready to dive right, which puts his left hand high, so he used momentum to get his hand there in time. He arches his body to get his feet on the line but his body in front of it. This means that the core of his body is providing almost no strength to his arm here. His hand finds the ball perfectly and he is strong enough to power it up over the bar from no more than a foot or two in front of it. This is Andre Blakesweak hand getting to the ball and staying strong enough to knock it almost straight up. Truly unbelievable.
Brick Wall Blake, indeed.
Read more from the original source:
The anatomy of an amazing save - The Philly Soccer Page
- 19 Most Memorable (and Heart-Wrenching!) 'Grey's Anatomy' Episodes of All Time - PEOPLE - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 16 stars you forgot were on Grey's Anatomy before their big break (including future Oscar nominees) - Entertainment Weekly News - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- "I Cried When He Died": Shonda Rhimes Is Still Deeply Impacted By Killing One Grey's Anatomy Character - Screen Rant - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- See the Best Greys Anatomy Behind-the-Scenes Photos to Celebrate 20 Years of the Medical Drama - PEOPLE - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Katherine Heigl, Jeffrey Dean Morgan reunite to talk Grey's Anatomy , from Denny's death to ghost sex - Entertainment Weekly News - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Sandra Oh Is Changing Her Tune on a Potential Return to 'Grey's Anatomy' - PEOPLE - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- The Scrapped Grey's Anatomy Spin-Off Would Have Ruined The Show's Best Characters - SlashFilm - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Anatomy of a flood: The Derna tragedys lessons for Libyan governance - Brookings Institution - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 19 Years Later, Shonda Rhimes Still Isnt Over This Greys Anatomy Death (and Neither Are We) - Collider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- The perfect palliative balm of Greys Anatomy - Financial Times - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 15 Behind-the-Scenes Facts You Didn't Know About Grey's Anatomy, 20 Years After It Premiered - MSN - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- I Have Zero Endings: Shonda Rhimes Has No Idea How (or When) Greys Anatomy Will End - Collider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- My Only Allegiance Is to the Story: Shonda Rhimes Explains Why Shes Killed So Many Beloved Greys Anatomy Characters - Collider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo says $20 million salary brings 'true independence': 'I don't have to do anything I don't want to do' - CNBC - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 'I love your song from "Grey's Anatomy"': How the ABC medical drama's soundtrack changed these artists' musical careers - Yahoo... - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Shonda Rhimes On The 'Grey's Anatomy' & 'Scandal' Spinoffs That Never Materialized: "We Thought About A Lot Of Things" - Deadline - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Shades of Gray in Twenty Years of Greys Anatomy - Books, Health and History - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Linda Lowy talks casting Shondaland, from Grey's Anatomy to the best audition she's ever seen - Entertainment Weekly News - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Shonda Rhimes is 'forever bitter' about having to fight for 'Grey's Anatomy' musical episode - Entertainment Weekly News - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy: Is It Finally Time for Owen & Teddy to Call it Quits? (POLL) - TV Insider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- After 18 Years, Meredith Finally Proves Ellis' Most Hurtful Criticism Wrong In Grey's Anatomy Season 21 - Screen Rant - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Arte France Boards Movistar Plus+s The Anatomy of a Moment, From The Plagues Alberto Rodrguez - Variety - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Makes Me Just Go, Hmm: Christinas Potential Greys Anatomy Return Addressed By Sandra Oh, Who Admits Her Stance Has Softened After Years Of Hard No -... - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Shonda Rhimes Reveals "A Bunch" Of Never Made Grey's Anatomy Spinoffs, Including One Based On The Shepherd Family - Screen Rant - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Anatomy of a Massacre - by Theo Padnos - Persuasion - Persuasion | Yascha Mounk - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- We Thought About a Lot of Things: Shonda Rhimes Discusses Greys Anatomy Spin-Offs That Never Were - Collider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Redefined the Medical Drama on TV - Collider - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy turns 20: How Katherine Heigl pulled off her Emmy upset and remains the only series regular to win - Gold Derby - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Why Shonda Rhimes Scrapped Spinoffs of Greys Anatomy and Scandal - TheWrap - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy at 20: From their pretty exciting first day to their linchpin episodes, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. look back - Gold Derby - March 30th, 2025 [March 30th, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy': Deceit Rocks Grey Sloan, Link and Jo Make a Big Decision and Meredith Faces the Wrath of Richard - PEOPLE - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo won't let 10-year-old watch Grey's Anatomy , isn't ready for her to see her in her underwear on TV - Entertainment Weekly News - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo Reveals Why She Doesn't Want Her 10-Year-Old Daughter Sienna to Watch Grey's Anatomy - PEOPLE - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- How to watch Greys Anatomy' online for FREE without cable - PennLive - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Forget Marry Me Chicken: Links Insane Greys Anatomy Breakfast Sandwich Is the Real Deal-Closer - TVLine - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Original Grey's Anatomy Cast in Photos: Then and Now - Good Housekeeping - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Why Ellen Pompeo Wont Let Her 10-year-old Daughter Watch Greys Anatomy - Hollywood Reporter - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo's Good American Family Promos Airing During ABC's Grey's Anatomy Night Is Kind Of Trippy, But Her New Hulu Show Has Me Intrigued -... - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo explains why she doesnt want her 10-year-old daughter watching Greys Anatomy - New York Post - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Episode 10 Review: I'm So Glad Meredith Is Back In A Refreshing Return To Form For The ABC Show - Screen Rant - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Showrunner Weighs In On The Pitt's Success & The Competition In Medical Drama - Screen Rant - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo on Stepping Back From 'Grey's Anatomy' to Take on Natalia Grace's Story (Exclusive) - Entertainment Tonight - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo Reveals Hilarious Reason She Wont Let Her Daughter Watch Greys Anatomy - E! Online - E! NEWS - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- 10 of the Biggest Feuds in Greys Anatomy History - Shondaland.com - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Anatomy of a Recession Update: Consumer confidence | Franklin Templeton - Beyond Bulls & Bears - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo Says 'Grey's Anatomy' Fans Will Be Shocked By Her Role as Natalia Grace's Adoptive Mom - Access Hollywood - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- A Guide to Security Investments: The Anatomy of a Cyberattack - SecurityWeek - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Noah Wyle Says His Kids Have Watched More Greys Anatomy Than ER : Its a Point of Contention (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Welcome from Head of Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience - News | University College Cork - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Showrunner Reveals Whether Ellen Pompeo Will Return for Season 22 - Collider - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Sneakily Continues A Key Station 19 Story A Year After ABC Canceled The Spinoff - Screen Rant - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Anatomy of the average American paycheck - Floyd Chronicle & Times - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Showrunner Addresses Whether There Could Be A Future Without Any Meredith Grey - Screen Rant - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Actor Jason George Explains What Its Like Filming Amidst Schmitt And Yasudas Departure - CinemaBlend - March 15th, 2025 [March 15th, 2025]
- The Magic Behind 'Grey's Anatomy': CGI, Medical Expertise, and Hollywood Tricks - Collider - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Canadians and Wayne Gretzky: Anatomy of a Relationship on Thin Ice - The New York Times - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Spits & Suds: The Anatomy of how trade deadline deals get done in the NHL - 105.3 The Fan - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Kate Walsh Shares Healthy Habits for Cancer Prevention - Healthline - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- The Anatomy of Fear: Tips on Scoring a Body Horror Movie - No Film School - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Go-to anatomy atlas featuring corpses of Nazi victims revamped by UCLA cardiologist - The Times of Israel - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo Reveals Which Viral Scene from Greys Anatomy Made Her Oldest Daughter Cry (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- In Karnataka, the anatomy of three riot-like situations - The Hindu - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Ellen Pompeo Reveals The Grey's Anatomy's Episode That Made Her Oldest Daughter Cry - Screen Rant - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Heres Whats New on TV This Week Including Grey's Anatomy American Idol, The Righteous Gemstones, and More - Collider - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy cast members who have spoken out about their own serious health conditions - Tyla - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Returns: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of the Midseason Premiere - TVLine - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- All the Lingering Questions We Need Answered When Greys Anatomy Comes Back - Shondaland.com - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy star Kate Walsh shares important message after being diagnosed with brain tumour - Tyla - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- 'I Couldn't Hold It Together': Ellen Pompeo Recalls Grey's Anatomy Moment That Brought Her and Her Daughter to Tears - CBR - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy star Kate Walsh reveals very subtle warning sign ahead of brain tumour diagnosis - Tyla - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy season 21 part 1 recap: All to remember before part 2 arrives - Sportskeeda - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Episode 9: Release date & time, what to expect, and more - Sportskeeda - March 5th, 2025 [March 5th, 2025]
- The Splendour of Life, Starring Anatomy of a Fall Actor Camille Rutherford, Picked Up by H264 (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Sneak Peek: Its Tears for Fears in Your First Look at the Midseason Premiere - TVLine - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Can a Longtime Greys Anatomy Stan Learn to Love the Grim Medical Reality of The Pitt? - Vogue - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Is Coming Back Next MonthHeres What We Know About That Cliff-Hanger - Glamour - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- New Extremity Box Set Collects 'High Tension,' 'Anatomy of Hell,' 'Frontier(s),' 'Martyrs' on Blu-ray - Bloody Disgusting - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- When Does 'Grey's Anatomy' Return With New Episodes? - TV Insider - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Books of Discovery Expands Access to Premier Anatomy and Physiology Textbooks for Educators and Students - EIN News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- 10 Scenes That Made Grey's Anatomy Fans Quit the Show (& Never Look Back) - CBR - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]