IT WAS A performance any father would have been proud of, especially Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann, whose son saved a late penalty in his debut for Hertha Berlin.
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Jonathan Klinsmann emerged as the hero on Thursday after the 20-year-old goalkeeper stopped an 87th-minute penalty to ensure Hertha drew 1-1 at home to Ostersunds FK in their final Europa League match.
With number one keeper Rune Jarstein absent and backup Thomas Kraft sidelined through illness, Klinsmann was given the nod for his first senior appearance and the United States youth international did not disappoint, diving low to deny Brwa Nouri from the spot with three minutes remaining.
“It was definitely crazy. I don’t know how else to describe it,” Klinsmann told Hertha TV. “First starting XI, Europa League, the whole thing. It was just crazy.
“At the time, I was just nervous. A couple of days before the game and you start thinking and overthinking. I didn’t know what to think.
“I called my dad and told him. He calmed me down a bit.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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It was crazy! Jurgen Klinsmann's son saves penalty on professional debut
Updated at 11.38
IT WAS A performance any father would have been proud of, especially Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann, whose son saved a late penalty in his debut for Hertha Berlin.
Jonathan Klinsmann emerged as the hero on Thursday after the 20-year-old goalkeeper stopped an 87th-minute penalty to ensure Hertha drew 1-1 at home to Ostersunds FK in their final Europa League match.
With number one keeper Rune Jarstein absent and backup Thomas Kraft sidelined through illness, Klinsmann was given the nod for his first senior appearance and the United States youth international did not disappoint, diving low to deny Brwa Nouri from the spot with three minutes remaining.
“It was definitely crazy. I don’t know how else to describe it,” Klinsmann told Hertha TV. “First starting XI, Europa League, the whole thing. It was just crazy.
“At the time, I was just nervous. A couple of days before the game and you start thinking and overthinking. I didn’t know what to think.
“I called my dad and told him. He calmed me down a bit.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
It’s official: David O’Leary’s penalty at Italia ’90 has been voted Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moment
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