Corinthians' Cassio shows off football IQ to allow indirect free-kick to go straight in | OneFootball

It's said that goalkeepers can be a little unusual. And everybody loves a shot-stopper who does things differently – as long as they don't play for the team you support. After all, Rene Higuita will forever be remembered for his unique Scorpion Kick.

And there are even some goalkeepers who try to get forward whenever the opportunity arises. For instance, you have had the likes of Rogério Ceni, Jose Luis Chilavert and many others score time and time again for their respective clubs despite their primary job being to stand between the sticks.

How goalkeeping has evolved

The position has changed in recent times too, with managers now wanting their number ones to be able to be comfortable with the ball at the feet, as well as still doing as the normal goalkeeper stuff at a high level. This evolution in the role may well explain why a world-class shot-stopper such as David de Gea is still without a club having left Manchester United in the summer.

Indeed, goalies now have to have great composure, top technical ability, masterful reading of the game as well as having cat-like reflexes if they want to make it to the top of the game. You could argue that having a strong footballing IQ is the most important skill required for any footballer, regardless of position. And in a recent game in Brazil, one goalkeeper showed he had this in abundance.

Brasiliero Serie A giants Corinthians were playing at home against Mineiro when referee Braulio da Silva Machado handed the away team an indirect free-kick in the 74th minute of the match. Unable to shoot from the set piece, the ball was swung into the box but neither defenders nor attackers were able to get any contact on the cross.

As a result, the ball flew towards the goal of Corinthians shot-stopper Cassio Ramos. While most goalkeepers would have made an attempt to catch or parry the cross, the 36-year-old keeper had other ideas.

Displaying an impressive understanding of the rules of the game, and a bold level of composure in the heat of the moment, Cassio simply jumped out of the path of the ball, allowing it to sail into the back of his net. Of course, as it was an in-direct freekick, the goal couldn't stand and so his team were awarded a goal kick, as per the laws of the game.

Corinthians manager Mano Menezes reacts to Cassio

It was a display of real intelligence from the goalkeeper who kept his composure in quite a remarkable fashion. You can watch a clip of the incident below, and also enjoy the nervous reaction of his manager Mano Menezes​​​​​​.

Seeing as the score was level at the time, had the ball brushed Cassio before going into the back of the net, Mineiro would have then led 2-1. However, as a consequence of the goalkeeper's cool actions, the game ended up finishing as a 1-1 draw.