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Javier Hernandez was left with egg on his face after his chance to claim a last-minute victory for LA Galaxy went horrendously wrong.

Locked in a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer, Chicharito stepped up to the spot and inexplicably went for a Panenka - and the former Manchester United man completely fluffed it.

Hernandez's last-minute showboating from the spot backfired
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Hernandez's last-minute showboating from the spot backfiredCredit: Getty

To make matters worse, it was also his chance to seal a hat-trick, having scored the opener and then the equaliser as Kansas roared back from an early goal down in California, with former Derby County and Scotland forward Johnny Russell among their goalscorers.

The referee then pointed to the spot in the fifth and final minute of injury-time with the opportunity for Hernandez to seal a huge victory that would have moved them to within one point of the MLS Cup play-offs.

But his baffling decision to showboat backfired badly, as he scooped the ball straight into the arms of awaiting goalkeeper John Pulskamp, who barely had to move.

The Mexican was left looking embarrassed on the side of the pitch, and lifted his hands in a plea for forgiveness towards Galaxy fans, before apologising after the game for costing his side the win.

"It's a mental game and I dared to take the shot, and the responsibility of not getting the two [extra] points falls on me," Chicharito said.

"I accept it, one hundred percent.

Chicharito had scored LA Galaxy's earlier two goals against Kansas
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Chicharito had scored LA Galaxy's earlier two goals against KansasCredit: getty
But messed up the chance to seal three points for his team with his failed Panenka
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But messed up the chance to seal three points for his team with his failed PanenkaCredit: getty

"Unfortunately, I caused my team to drop two points, but I'm going to keep on working.

“There's no other way and I have to accept my responsibility."

"He [Pulksamp] guessed right and that's it."

Unfortunately, though, this was not a one-off for Hernandez.

No player has missed more penalties than the ex-Red Devils star since he joined MLS in 2020, with his Panenka nightmare his fourth blunder from the spot for the Galaxy.

You’d think he’d have learned his lesson!

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