Darren Bent reveals why he ‘felt bad’ after infamous Liverpool beachball goal that would ‘never be allowed today’

DARREN BENT scored 221 goals successful astir 600 games for nine and state — but nary much celebrated than the 1 with the astir bizarre assistance successful shot history . . . off a BEACHBALL!

Fifteen years agone tomorrow, his fifth-minute changeable for Sunderland deflected disconnected a stray reddish inflatable that wholly deceived Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina earlier going in.

It clinched a 1-0 Premier League triumph implicit the Reds and is the extremity helium is everlastingly asked to speech about.

Bent, present 40 and a presenter connected talkSPORT, said: “I talk astir it each the clip due to the fact that the infinitesimal was a implicit freak situation.

“Seriously, erstwhile person you ever antecedently seen a beachball thrown connected to a transportation earlier the commencement of a football match? Balloons, toilet rolls . . . but a beachball?

“And the mode successful which the upwind blows successful disconnected the seashore crossed the Stadium of Light pitch, what are the chances of that beachball staying connected the transportation for 5 minutes for that magnitude of time?

“Then erstwhile the lucifer shot is crossed to me, astatine that precise infinitesimal it cannons disconnected the inflatable and diverts it successful the net.

“I deliberation each the likelihood of that happening are greater than getting each six numbers connected the lottery.

“Even if I tried to re-enact that concern I’d conflict to bash it due to the fact that the beachball would stroke distant oregon I’d conflict to deed a changeable that would link with the inflatable.

“It was a implicit one-off, astir from a bygone era.

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“Plus, with VAR contiguous determination is not a accidental that the extremity would stand.

“I’m besides beauteous definite my changeable for that extremity would bamboozle stat boffins for my xG!”

Bent recalled the infinitesimal the shot was crossed from Andy Reid and flicked successful by Steed Malbranque.

He added: “In my caput it was ever the aforesaid erstwhile I was successful a concern similar that: ‘Hit the target’.

“The infinitesimal I struck it and saw the shot deflect and spell in, I ran disconnected celebrating. I knew it deed something, my archetypal instinct was it came disconnected Liverpool defender Glen Johnson’s leg.

“Then I was alert of Liverpool players protesting astir the goal.

“I felt a spot for referee Mike Jones due to the fact that I was told helium was demoted to the Championship the pursuing week. He was faced with an unprecedented situation.

“He had nary show to spell and look astatine to cheque however the extremity had gone in. It was a implicit one-off.

“The astir frustrating portion is I could and should person scored 2 oregon 3 much goals that day.

“We perfectly battered Liverpool but it conscionable truthful happened it ended up being the winning goal!”

Bent did person sympathy with the Reds fan, Callum Campbell, 16 astatine the time, who threw the beachball onto the tract and received unspeakable online maltreatment successful the days that followed.

The erstwhile England striker added: “When I work astir that, I recovered it rather appalling.

“Here was a shot fanatic enjoying the ambiance of pursuing his squad away. Everything astir what helium did that time was arsenic a protagonist of his club.

“As I person antecedently said, it was conscionable a freak of quality that everything conspired into that moment. He had nary hint — similar the remainder of america — however it would cookware out.

“After the game, I retrieve talking with Glen Johnson, who remains a adjacent friend, and keeper Pepe Reina astir however it could person happened.”

The historical beachball is connected show arsenic portion of The People’s Collection astatine the National Football Museum successful Manchester. Or is it?

Bent said: “I’m led to judge that’s wherever it is, though I’ve besides been told determination is simply a feline successful the North East who has it, truthful it’s unfastened to debate.”

The ex-Ipswich, Aston Villa and Tottenham ace is blessed to transportation connected talking astir it — though helium admits among his 221 goals it would not adjacent fertile among the apical 200!

He added: “If I had £1 for each clip I person had to speech astir it implicit the past 15 years, I would consciousness similar a lottery winner!

“But I accidental it’s nice to beryllium remembered everlastingly arsenic scoring 1 of the maddest goals successful the history of the Premier League.”

Listen to Darren Bent connected his talkSPORT Drive amusement each Monday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm with Andy Goldstein.