Bazunu joins elite band of Ronaldo stoppers

Portsmouth's on-loan goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu joined a select group of stoppers to save a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty last night. 

The 19-year-old, who has joined Pompey on a season-long loan from Man City, endured the heartbreak of losing 2-1 to Portugal while in net for the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualifier in the Algarve. 

The Irish looked to be on course for a shock win when defender John Egan put them ahead on the stroke of half-time, but Portugal captain and talisman Ronaldo equalised in the 89th minute before snatching a last gasp winner for the 'Seleção'. 

Bazunu will take some consolation from the fact that he pulled off a fantastic 15th minute penalty save from Ronaldo, the goalkeeper flinging himself low to his right to deny the forward, who rejoined Manchester United this summer. 

In the process, Bazunu joined an exclusive club of goalkeepers to deny Ronaldo from the spot. During his stellar career to date, the Portuguese has missed 28 of 167 penalties for club and country - with 19 of them actually saved by the goalkeeper. 

At international level, five keepers have denied CR7: Bazunu, Alireza (for Iran at World Cup 2018), Vladislav Stoyanov (for Bulgaria in an international friendly in 2016), Volkan Demirel (for Turkey in 2012 friendly) and Thomas Sorensen, who was the first stopper ever to keep out a Ronaldo penalty when he denied the Portuguese playing for Denmark in a 2006 friendly encounter. 

For the full list of 19 keepers to thwart Ronaldo from the spot, check out the stat graphic below...

🧤Goalkeepers to SAVE a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty:

🇵🇹 ⚡️BAZUNU⚡️, Alireza, Stoyanov, Demiral, Sorensen
🇪🇺 Cech, Neuer, Stoyanov, Sellberg-Wiland,
🇮🇹 Handanovic, Gollini, Donnarumma, Sorrentino
🇪🇸 Roberto, Pacheco, Kameni, Caballero, Iraizoz, Alves x3
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Kirkland#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/lDEK3r1kYW

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 2, 2021