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Football

15th Feb 2021

Iranian footballer produces ridiculously long somersault throw

Simon Lloyd

This is enough to make Rory Delap look bad

We all remember the guy who attempted this at the last World Cup, don’t we?

Poor Milad Mohammadi, bless him, produced one of the more memorable moments of Russia 2018 when he attempted and failed spectacularly at a somersault throw-in for Iran in the dying seconds of their group game with Spain.

Many might have dismissed the somersault part as needless showboatery, but there is, as one of his countrymen has again highlighted, purpose to this particular kind of throw-in.

Nader Mohammadi had been known to get incredible distance with the unconventional technique and made headlines last year when one resulted in a goal – albeit thanks to the goalkeeper making a bit of a mess of things – during a Persian Gulf Pro League.

This week, he has caught the eye again while in action for his club, Paykan, with another unbelievably long throw.

Footage below shows him winding up for the throw *inside his own half*, before hurling the ball deep enough into the opposition penalty area that the goalkeeper wanders out to the edge of his six-yard box as he thinks about claiming it.

It has to be seen to be believed, frankly, so assuming you haven’t just scrolled past all the writing and hit play already, here:

The tweet above makes a good point. Imagine if Rory Delap had added the somersault bit to his throws. They might actually have gone into orbit.