Diego Castro's penalty spot shocker against Wellington Phoenix didn't cost the Spaniard any sort of tongue-lashing from his Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe.
With the game on the line, Castro produced one of the more feeble efforts from the spot in A-League history.
His Panenka penalty failed as the ball gently ballooned into the arms of stationary Phoenix goalkeeper Tando Velaphi.
The brilliant Spanish marksman looked horrified and the hosts made him pay soon afterwards.
An own goal from Shane Lowry gifted Phoenix a 2-1 win, a result the eighth-placed Glory should have been celebrating.
Lowe, never afraid to vent his feelings, laid off criticising his marquee Castro, who had earlier scored an equaliser from a sharp free kick.
He says Castro's enormous contribution across three seasons should not be seen as spoiled by one mistake -- as glaring as it was.
"Diego Castro is a quality player and he makes choices. A lot of those choices have got us points," Lowe said.
"He made a choice tonight that he'll be disappointed with.
"Obviously we're all disappointed because that would have sealed it but that's football. In big moments, Cas normally steps up."
Phoenix counterpart Darije Kalezic didn't want to rub salt into the wound.
He also paid tribute to the class of the 35-year-old and admitted the Phoenix deliberately changed their game plan to counter the threat Castro posed.
"Of course he will be disappointed but Castro deserves a special place at Perth because of his performances at the club," Kalezic said.
"Nobody should judge him because of one penalty."
