Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved a penalty vs Manchester City in the first half of the FA Cup final. Erling Haaland was expected to take it, but Omar Marmoush stepped up instead and missed from 12 yards.
City dominated the early stage but after absorbing the pressure, the Eagles then excicuted a perfect sucker punch as they broke up field and Daniel Munoz picked out Eberechi Eze with a fine low cross, allwiing the Englishman to stroke home the opener.
Drama would follow as Henderson avoided a red card despite handling the ball outside of his own box, before then brilliantly saving a penalty from Marmoush, with Haaland surprisingly handing over the responsibility from 12 yards to the Egyptian.
BBC pundit and former striker Wayne Rooney has now provided a theory as to why the Norwegian did not take the penalty.
Wayne Rooney's Theory On Haaland's Penalty Decision
Marmoush denied by Henderson from 12 yards.
Speaking at half time, Micah Richards began: "You don't give your penalty away in an FA Cup final!" Rooney then chimed in with his theory, explaining that he believed the decision was made by Pep Guardiola ahead of kick-off. He said:
"I don't think he's given it away. I think it's been taken off him before the game. I think it's decided [by Pep Guardiola]."
Gary Lineker concurred as he said: "Oh definitely." Before adding: "I can't imagine Halaand is not going to fancy it."
In fairness to whoever made the decision, the Man City striker has taken seven penalties in all competitions this season, missing three. With that in mind, it makes more sense that the ball was taken from him.