Rotor Volgograd constructed a defensive wall to stop a throw-in during their Russian First League match against Spartak Kostroma and conceded the winning goal from it anyway.

The unusual precaution was required because Spartak defender Nader Mohammadi does not approach throw-ins in the conventional manner.

Mohammadi performs a forward somersault while holding the ball, using the momentum to launch it directly into the opposition penalty area. The Iranian’s deliveries have become sufficiently dangerous that Rotor positioned several players near the touchline in an attempt to block the trajectory.

Mohammadi threw it over them.

The ball travelled into the penalty area, where Rotor goalkeeper Nikita Chagrov misjudged his attempt to collect it and Nikolai Tarasov headed into the net in the 79th minute.

It proved to be the only goal of Spartak’s 1-0 victory.

Rotor could not claim they had been surprised. Mohammadi produced an almost identical assist against SKA-Khabarovsk on 9 August, when another somersault throw helped Spartak complete a 3-1 win.

He also launched one from inside his own half against Ufa eight days later, creating a dangerous attack without recording an assist.

The 29-year-old has therefore progressed from occasionally performing an unusual throw-in to operating an identifiable attacking system. Opponents now prepare specific defensive arrangements for the moment he places both feet over his head.

Rotor recognised the threat, organised a wall and positioned themselves specifically to stop it.

Mohammadi responded by completing his somersault, clearing the wall and providing his second throw-in assist in three weeks.

A throw-in is ordinarily football’s least threatening restart. Spartak Kostroma have found one that requires its own defensive formation.