18 years ago today

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Since that penalty.

Kids and I were in the front room wife was in the back garden but heard the shout as in it went.

Who was lucky enough to be there?

[Yarmbaggie]

Since that penalty.

Kids and I were in the front room wife was in the back garden but heard the shout as in it went.

Who was lucky enough to be there?

Me and my mate could only get tickets in the Bradford stand opposite the half way line and on the opposite side to our fans - facing right towards the goal where the penalty was given. We had managed to control our emotions for most of the match until the penalty decision was given. Very quickly a small group of blokes stood around us as the penalty was taken.

Thankfully for us a couple of the older blokes said to the others leave us alone. They said there has been a great away support which has helped the Bradford City finances! We were ‘escorted’ out of the ground by about 5/6 of these blokes before quickly vanishing into the crowd very quickly once we were outside. With tears of joy running down my face it was pretty obvious we were Baggies fans but everyone left us alone and we both let our one almighty scream of joy when we got back to the car.

Not quite as emotional as the greatest escape afternoon but pretty close to it.

[Baggies_Boy_Tony]

I was there with a group of mates, we were behind the goal were the penalty was given. We were in awe when Igor picked up the ball, he was surrounded by Bradford players giving him some banter without realizing he hardly spoke a word of English, he put the pen. away with no problem.

It was only later on we found out Igor was the regular penalty taker for his national team.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

That Igor was the regular penalty taker for Slovakia was I think a myth perpetuated by Balis himself. Just checked it out and in 41 international appearances he scored 1 goal.

He scored 4 in total for The Baggies. Was any of the other 3 pens?

No one will have forgotten the scenes but her you go anywayf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWCFYp3F4Ck

[WBA123]

It was actually a really good penalty. He didn't just smash it, he placed it right in the corner.

I also remember him scoring another penalty in the Prem, I think against Everton if memory serves?

[Yarmbaggie]

I definitely saw Igor Bališ score at St James’s Park against Newcastle when we lost 2-1.
I think it may have even been when he pushed forward a bit more than usual but I could have got that wrong. I also remember Shearer scoring there from a free kick from hardly any distance in the penalty area with all our players on the goal line. Could have even been the same game.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

I definitely saw Igor Bališ score at St James’s Park against Newcastle when we lost 2-1.
I think it may have even been when he pushed forward a bit more than usual but I could have got that wrong. I also remember Shearer scoring there from a free kick from hardly any distance in the penalty area with all our players on the goal line. Could have even been the same game.

I was there. Shearer scored from a free kick for a back pass. First attempt was blocked but ref said take it again as wall had moved before the kick. He scored from the 2nd attempt. I reckon they would have kept going until he scored.

[Albionic68]

I was there. Shearer scored from a free kick for a back pass. First attempt was blocked but ref said take it again as wall had moved before the kick. He scored from the 2nd attempt. I reckon they would have kept going until he scored.

From memory it seemed more like the ball just came off Igor as opposed to it being an actual back pass. And yes, I dare say the game would have gone on until they scored. Just another example of the harsh decisions we seemed to be on the end of that season.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

From memory it seemed more like the ball just came off Igor as opposed to it being an actual back pass. And yes, I dare say the game would have gone on until they scored. Just another example of the harsh decisions we seemed to be on the end of that season.

Yep hard low cross from the right which was a ricochet off Balis rather than a pass. We could start a whole thread dedicated to 'shockers' that went against us that season.

We could start with the first match at OT. McInnes got a straight red for a tackle that was not as bad as one from Keane a few mins earlier. Solskjaer scores the only goal from one that was offside.

[WBA1955]

There was a long period between the penalty being given and Igor taking it. I had listened to the game on the radio but had given up on us winning and gone outside. When i came back in my wife asked who Igor Balis played for. I said us why? She said he is going to take a penalty.
I bet they heard my roar and laugh in Wolverhampton when it went in.