Stefan Ortega Leads Best Second Choice Goalkeepers List After Point Blank Save in Title Race

• Stefan Ortega put in a masterful performance to maintain Manchester City's title hopes
• The German goalkeeper has been second-choice to Ederson since joining the club in 2022
• He leads a list of world-class keepers who are warming the bench as the second-choice options

Stefan Ortega pulled off one of the best last-ditch efforts to deny Heung-min Son an opportunity to equalise when Manchester City played Tottenham Hotspur on May 14.

Son was through on goal and on any other day, you would have fancied the South Korean to bury that chance and dent Pep Guardiola's hopes of another title.

So dire was the situation that Guardiola, literally surrendered to fate, lying on the ground, waiting for the worst to happen. The worst didn't arrive, though.

Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 48 games with win at Frankfurt

Football

Ortega thwarted Son's effort to keep City's lead in the game intact. Guardiola did not mince his words in the press conference. He knew how big that save was.

"Stefan Ortega has saved us, otherwise, Arsenal are Premier League Champions," as quoted by the Guardian.

The German goalkeeper only found the opportunity to play after Guardiola opted to withdraw Ederson after a collision with Christian Romero. The Brazilian shot-stopper wasn't far from happy with that decision, but he, too, would have been grateful for that Ortega save.

If Ederson is fit, he will likely start the final game against West Ham.

Second-choice keepers too good for the bench

Such is the dilemma and sad state that second-choice goalkeepers go through. You have to show up consistently for training, help the main goalkeeper and, on matchday, sit on the bench.

'Sound of silence' for troubled Milan as Juve inch towards Champions League

Football

You bide your time to get game time, probably in the cup competitions, for you to show the world how good you are.

Sports Brief looks at five other such goalkeepers apart from Ortega.

1. Keylor Navas: Paris Saint-Germain

It is almost unfathomable that a three-time Champions League winner has been relegated to once-in-a-while appearances.

Navas quit Real Madrid following the signing of Thibaut Courtois and joined French giants, PSG. After two seasons, the club signed Gianluigi Donnarumma. Mauricio Pochettino swapped between the two before his successor, Christophe Galtier, made Donnarumma the outright first-choice.

2. Aaron Ramsdale: Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale suffered deja vu at Arsenal when David Raya was signed from Brentford at the start of this season. Two years earlier, he joined from Sheffield United and displaced Bernd Leno as the club's first choice.

After a few games, Mikel Arteta made Raya his first pick, and Ramsdale has only played cup games since or against Brentford, where Raya was ineligible to play. 442 reports that the England international is now pushing for an exit.

Leon Balogun: Rangers Centre Back Suffers Injury Blow in Victory Over Kilmarnock

Football

3. Caoimhin Kelleher: Liverpool

Many teams would shiver at the thought of losing their main goalkeeper before a major cup final, but Jurgen Klopp has grown comfortable with losing Alisson Becker for a few games, knowing so well that Caoimhin Kelleher is an able substitute.

The Irish goalkeeper has won the Reds two trophies, both the Carabao Cups against Chelsea. On February 25, 2024, he kept a depleted Liverpool side in the game, denying Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher from point-blank range.

4. Dean Henderson: Crystal Palace

Dean Henderson grew tired of waiting for his chance to get a starting berth at Manchester United. An opportunity opened up when David de Gea left, but the club opted to pursue Andre Onana.

His move to Crystal Palace hasn't panned out well, either, failing to displace Sam Johnstone. He will be hoping to convince the boss, Oliver Glasner, of a more permanent role going forward even after Johnstone returns from injury.

Man Utd rut 'not good enough' but Ten Hag vows to fight on

Football

5. Kepa Arrizabalaga: Real Madrid/Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga has never quite lived up to his price tag as the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. After an error-stricken time at Chelsea, the club brought Edouard Mendy, ending his tenure as the first pick.

An injury to Mendy in the 2022/2023 season gave him the opportunity to revitalise his career, and he looked certain to have reclaimed his spot. Mendy moved to Saudi Arabia, leaving him as Pochettino's first choice.

However, when an opportunity to join Real Madrid opened up following Courtois' long-term injury, he couldn't turn it down. Life in the Spanish capital started with a series of starts for Carlo Ancelotti's side, but Andriy Lunin displaced him again.

Honourable mentions

Lukasz Fabianski has lost his place to Alphonse Areola at West Ham United this season. The veteran goalkeeper has been used in cup games or when the Frenchman is unavailable.

Casemiro: Manchester United ace embarrassed by Olise in game to forget vs Crystal Palace

Football

Chelsea's Đorđe Petrović is still technically number two, but his performances since Robert Sanchez suffered a knee injury last year will give Pochettino something to think about when the Spaniard is back in the squad.

Liverpool academy players who won Carabao Cup

Sports Brief has compiled a list of the Liverpool academy stars' Carabao Cup winners.

The side required help from Virgil Van Dijk to beat Chelsea in the final on February 25.

Jurgen Klopp's key stars were injured, forcing the German to rely on academy players.