Jacy Maranhao's Unforgettable Goal Celebration Mishap

For a few wild seconds in Curitiba, Jacy Maranhao was living every centre-back’s dream.

Coritiba were 1-0 up on Chapecoense in the first half of their Brazilian top-flight clash when the 29-year-old defender powered in a header in the 41st minute. A rare goal, under the lights, at home. Adrenaline took over.

He sprinted towards the stands, arms wide, riding the roar from the terraces. One leap over the advertising boards to get closer to the fans – and then he vanished.

On the other side of the hoarding, instead of solid ground, there was a tunnel leading down towards the away dressing room. Jacy dropped straight into it.

For a moment, the celebration turned slapstick. One second he was a conquering hero, the next he was out of sight, somewhere below pitch level at Couto Pereira Stadium, leaving team-mates and supporters briefly stunned.

He eventually clambered out, gingerly, clearly in pain. The landing had twisted his ankle. The defender tried to carry on, but the damage was done; he would later be substituted shortly after half-time.

The indignity didn’t end there. VAR stepped in and ruled the goal out, wiping his header from the scoresheet in a match Coritiba went on to win 2-1.

A centre-back’s collector’s item had turned into a ghost goal and an injury, all in the space of a few chaotic minutes.

“I twisted my foot there. It’s a bit sore, but I’m fine,” Jacy said afterwards. “Centre-backs hardly ever score goals. So when you do score ... I just got carried away.”

The scene might have felt surreal, but in this stadium it was not entirely new.

Couto Pereira has seen this before. In 2014, Cameroon striker Joel also celebrated by jumping the barriers and fell down the same passageway during Coritiba’s 3-1 win over Sao Paulo. A decade on, the trapdoor behind the hoardings claimed another victim.

Coritiba still left with the points this time, but for Jacy Maranhao the night will be remembered less for the result and more for the moment his dream goal ended at the bottom of a tunnel.