I probably seem 10 feet tall to some of these shooters. Tony Meola is one of MLS' most imposing goalkeepers to take PKs against. The Tampa Bay Mutiny can attest to the disappointment of the miss. After the Chicago Fire's five failed conversions in 2000, the Mutiny is second in MLS with four misfires in six attempts. The first one could have also interrupted Tony Meola's record shutout streak set earlier this season.
Conventional wisdom says that the advantage goes to the shooter.
But when you have a goalkeeper with the reputation that Tony has, the goal shrinks for the shooter. After Diallo and Carlos Valderrama missed two opportunities each, Mutiny Head Coach Tim Hankinson said the team's next kick would fall to a new player. But the Central Division leaders take the penalty spot malaise in stride, even if it has cost them precious points along the way. The more you make of it the worse it gets. At the end of the day the feeling is that things will eventually return to the norm.