The hole story behind Jacy’s leap of faith

Footballers have never exactly enjoyed a healthy relationship with advertising hoardings.

Some slide through them. Some climb on top of them. Others launch themselves over them in the name of celebration. And, more often than not, the hoardings have the last laugh, producing a blooper that lives forever in football's funniest-video compilations.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The latest victim was Coritiba defender and captain Jacy Maranhao Oliveira, who discovered on Sunday that it is probably worth checking what lies on the other side before throwing yourself over an advertising board.

The 29-year-old went into a frenzy after finding the net against Chapecoense in the Brazilian top flight, convinced he had put Coritiba 2-0 up.

Given Jacy had scored only nine goals in his nine-year career, one could understand the excitement. He found the net from a set-piece, raced towards the home supporters and then decided a spectacular leap over an advertising board would complete the moment. But the advertising hoarding, it seems, had other plans.

Behind the board was a tunnel, with a staircase leading down into it. So, immediately after what looked like a perfect leap of faith, the defender disappeared from sight.

Even the security guard standing next to the tunnel appeared unable to process what he had just witnessed and could only stand there with both hands on his head before sprinting down the tunnel to check on the airborne goalscorer.

And because football apparently enjoys adding insult to injury, that was not even the end of it.

Moments later, in perhaps the most anticlimactic fashion imaginable, Jacy’s goal was disallowed by VAR.

Jacy was treated by Coritiba's medical staff and remained on the pitch, but was substituted at half-time. According to Cazé TV, the fall during his celebration was the reason for his withdrawal. He was later seen on the bench applying ice to his ankle.

At least Coritiba eventually gave him something to celebrate. They doubled their lead in the 82nd minute and held on for a 2-1 victory.

But perhaps the strangest part of the whole episode is that Jacy was not even the first Coritiba player to discover the tunnel the hard way.

In 2014, Coritiba striker Diederrick Joel Tagueu celebrated a goal against Sao Paulo by making the exact same leap over the advertising board and fell into the exact same hole.

Joel scored one of Coritiba goals in the victory but was also injured after taking the same ill-fated route.

Twelve years later, Jacy apparently decided to recreate the experience.

At this point, perhaps Coritiba should just put up a sign.