Danny Welbeck went on an emotional ride during Brighton’s Premier League game against West Ham last weekend. The striker’s strike was clinical from the penalty spot. Not long afterward, he was deep in controversy when he missed a second penalty kick in the match. A cold Saturday afternoon in the shadow of the London Stadium would provide plenty of plot twists. Fans and analysts sharpened their eyes to the growing drama.
In the first half of the match, Welbeck confidently stepped up to take a penalty awarded to Brighton following a foul in the box. He showed great confidence and technique, sending the keeper the wrong way and giving his side the lead. This impressive conversion further demonstrated his composure under duress and highlighted how integral he was to Brighton’s attacking plan.
That would change in the second half in a surprising way. Upon being awarded a second penalty, Welbeck then decided to go for a Panenka shot — a miscalculation, to put it mildly. That audacious attempt failed when that ball meekly floated right into the waiting arms of West Ham’s keeper. This fortunate escape roared the home team’s chances of a comeback to life. This miss not only called into question his decision-making in critical time moments and made fans and teammates in the huddle shocked.
The divergent fortunes of these two set pieces only served to underline the erratic temperament of Welbeck as a forward. His first goal put a spring in the step of Brighton but that second miss meant players and fans alike were now becalmed. The game would finish with Brighton earning a potentially priceless point, but the VAR penalty controversy would mask their impressive display on the whole.
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