Edwin van der Sar rolled back the years to produce some penalty heroics as he came out of retirement for one match only to help Noordwijk, of the Dutch fourth tier, secure a 1-1 draw against Jodan Boys.
The former Manchester United and Holland goalkeeper agreed to play for the team where he began his career in order to help them out during an injury crisis and his agility and psychological prowess came to the fore when he saved a penalty early in the match that was filmed by a supporter behind the goal.
De Champions League-finale herbeleefd bij @vvnoordwijk: Van der Sar stopt een strafschop tegen @jodanboys #noojod pic.twitter.com/9GCXf0Rkyz
— Haniff Harharah (@haniff1986) March 12, 2016
The save was reminiscent of the penalty stop he made from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 Champions League final when he pointed to one side of the goal before diving in the opposite direction to push the ball away.
The Dutch FA gave the 45-year-old special dispensation to start the game at short notice.
The former Holland and Manchester United goalkeeper quit playing in 2011, after United’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, but has accepted a request from Noordwijk after their regular goalkeeper Mustafa Mare Zine suffered an injury.
“He still thinks warmly of the club and is here regularly,” said the Noordwijk technical director, Peter Vink, to Voetbal in de Bollenstreek.
Van der Sar spent five years at Noordwijk before joining Ajax in 1990, and went on to win a Dutch record 130 caps for Holland as well as winning Champions League titles with Ajax and Manchester United.
He is not expected to play again for Noordwijk.
