Messi was forced to dummy it mate, and by the time he did that Szczesny was right on top of him.
Just watched the Eto'o goal, first time I've seen it since it first happened 🙁 If you watch Eto'o there though, he only ever has eyes for that near corner, as soon as he takes his touch and sees Almunia stray from his near post (dumb cunt!). Imagine if his first touch had took him a foot further inside, his body shape, weight and angle wouldn't have allowed him to find the near post - and in that situation Almunia would have been correct to gamble and anticipate a shot across him to the far post.
Szczesny would have read that, and if he didn't come out to cut it off early, he would have at least had his near post covered, giving himself a chance of saving it, whatever side Eto'o hit it. I reckon, faced with the same situation, szczesny would have come out early, in the same way we've already seen him do a number of times already this season - a sort of horizontal splash, and smothered Eto'o.
Either way, it's all about decision making from the goalkeeper, and I think Szczesny makes extremely good ones, hence why I rate him so, so highly, because I've seen that in him since I first watched him for the reserves. What he's showing now is he makes those big, brave decisions under pressure, on the biggest stage, up against Linoel Messi!
P.S - that was disgusting, horrible goalkeeping from Almunia. Jesus Wept.
