Mark Connolly turned his back on the free kick and soon had egg on his face
James Tavernier’s superb free kick stunned viewers on Sunday.
The opening goal in Rangers 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice was the captain’s best of a superb season, and it drew comparisons with the world’s greatest players.
Sky Sports pundit Ally McCoist said: “Honest to goodness, we both thought it would be five yards too far out, but it is absolutely fantastic.
“I’m thinking the goalkeeper, but no, he’s absolutely no chance. He’s got absolutely no chance. The curl on it, it’s right in the top corner.
“I mean the guy can do absolutely no wrong at this moment in time. That was a gem, a peach of a goal.
“This is just magnificent. There’s no other word for it, absolutely no other word for it.
“I tell you right now, if Messi or Ronaldo do that we’re absolutely raving about it. We’re salivating about that. We really are.
“It’s as good a free-kick as you’ll see anywhere in Europe this year.”
Tavernier’s goal impressed everyone who saw it, but Mark Connolly was not one of them.
The Dundee United defender was so confident of Tavernier’s shot heading over that he turned his back on it and walked away.
That reaction has been seized upon by fans.
Even this Dundee United fan saw the funny side.
The goal took Tavernier to 17 goals in just 27 matches this season, and he went on to set up his side’s winner by supplying the cross for Connor Goldson.
Tavernier’s side will learn their Europa League round of 32 opponents when the draw is made in Nyon at midday.
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