Flamengo striker misses open net in semifinal loss

SAO PAULO (AP) — Flamengo striker Deivid is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons in Brazil after missing an open goal from less than three yards in the team's 2-1 loss to Vasco da Gama.

With the semifinal of the Guanabara Cup in Rio de Janeiro tied at 1-1, Deivid received a low cross inside the six-yard box, with nobody near him and only the net in front. The cross came slowly to his feet but he mis-hit the ball and it ended striking the post.

Deivid said even his "5-year-old son would have scored" from there.

The video of his miss in the 36th minute at the Engenhao stadium turned viral on the Internet in Brazil and brought the mocking headlines in Thursday's newspapers.

"Deivid misses one of the most incredible chances of all time and becomes an idol to (Vasco) fans," the sports daily Lance said on its front page.

Vasco da Gama ended scoring late to win the match and advance to the final of Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

The former Bordeaux, Sporting and Fenerbahce striker asked to be included in the team's news conference on Thursday to talk about his miss.

He said he saw replays of the play and couldn't believe it himself.

"I was certain I was going to score," Deivid said. "I hit it and started turning to celebrate, and in that fraction of a second, in a moment of carelessness, it happened what it happened. Even my 5-year-old son would have scored."

He said his daughter woke up on Thursday and said, "You missed the goal," and said she was sorry for him.

"I told her not to be sorry," Deivid said. "But it will be a mark (in my career), and it's up to me to get over it by scoring goals and winning titles."

The 32-year-old forward said he couldn't sleep until the next morning after the match because of the miss.

He took full responsibility for the team's loss.

"I'm the only one guilty," he said. "I wish I could be here talking as a hero and not as a villain. If I had scored, it would have been a different story."

Despite widespread criticism from fans of Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, he said he was happy to have received support from the club, his teammates and even players from other teams, who sent him messages and called him to tell him not to worry.

"It was an unusual play, it will go down in history, especially because it happened in a semifinal, against a rival team, but the most important thing is for me to keep my head up."