Tigres Guzman Shifts Attention During Penalty with Magic Show

Whether he’s engaging in arguments with opponents or taunting rival fans, the 37-year-old man with six appearances for the Argentine National Team has a knack for capturing the football world’s attention.

He did it again on Friday night in a League Cup match.

The Round of 32 clash between Liga MX giants and the Vancouver Whitecaps had progressed to a penalty shootout after full-time whistle sounded with a 1-1 draw.

As Sergio Cordova waited to take the second penalty kick for the Caps on the night, Guzman mimicked mime movements to try to disrupt the concentration of the 25-year-old Venezuelan international player.

However, the effort bore no fruit as Cordova managed to beat the goalkeeper. Then came Ranko Veselinovic for Vancouver’s fourth penalty kick, and Guzman pulled off another trick.

The goalkeeper, who was entering his tenth season with the Monterrey club, signaled to the referee that he needed a moment. He then put his glove-covered fingers into his mouth and pulled out colorful ribbons.

Yellow, then pink, blue, and pink again ribbons emerged from Guzman’s mouth, while Veselinovic stood 12 yards away, patiently waiting to take the penalty kick.

As Guzman pulled out the last ribbon, he rubbed his stomach, as if indicating that he was feeling much better now, and signaled that he was ready to proceed.

The Vancouver center-back, clearly amazed by the magic show he had just witnessed and perhaps bewildered by his opponent’s tactics, sent a weak shot to the left of the goalkeeper, who easily saved it.

Tigres won the penalty shootout with a score of 5-3, propelling them to the Round of 16 to face their fierce local rivals, Monterrey.

Perhaps Guzman could pull a rabbit out of his water bottle or split one of his defenders in two.