There were some strange penalty kicks in the USA vs Brazil quarterfinal match of the Women's World Cup. Twice a penalty was taken and saved by the keeper, only to have the referee say it must be retaken. Each time, the second kick was successful (although in Brazil's case, by a different player!).
In the first one, a USA player was called for "encroachment" (entering into the penalty box before the Brazilian player strikes the ball). Technically illegal, but it is usually never called! Here is the moment of infamy:
Christiane, who took the first penalty, was replaced by Marta who made the second.
Then in the penalty shootout -- the very first kick -- Shannon Boxx's effort is denied but the referee cited the Brazilian keeper for coming off the line before the ball was struck. A keeper may move along the goal line before contact, but not towards the player. Here is the snapshot in time:
These were strange, but YouTube is a wealth of more strangeness! Let's look at a few.
PK #1: This video comes from a Moroccan league. The player hits a low, slow shot to the keeper's left. It's so soft and low that it bounces just before the keeper hits it away. Tennis players know that this creates backspin...
PK #2: This is from one of the lower leagues (Italian, I think). The player hits a hard shot high and middle, flying off the crossbar up into the air and outside the frame of camera. It bounces back down, with backspin...
Strange, that in the comments there is an update that the goal was later disallowed and should have been called dead as soon as the ball hit the ground. Hmmm.
PK #3: Similar to #2, it's a hard shot off the crossbar, but this one doesn't waste any time getting back into the goal.
PK #4: This is from a U19 (under 19 years old) game, Spain vs Italy. Pretty tricky. I'll let you see for yourself.
PK #5: From a Swiss lower league game. This is pure showing-off. Pretty athletic though. Watch the player, not the ball.
PK #6: This is from a training session in the Italian top league ("Totti" played for Rome). Anything you can do, I can do backwards...
PK #7: Before you ask - yes, this is legal. In a penalty kick during the game (but not a shootout, of course) the other players may enter the box as soon as the kicker hits the ball. Could go badly with a great goalie, though.
PK #8: This is not pro, semi-pro, or interesting in any other way than schadenfreude. Keep your eye on the ball, goalie. (but that doesn't mean to NOT put your hands up)