Football is a dramatic game at heart, and given the small scorelines, it’s bound to be arguably one of the most dramatic sports around. And absolutely nothing defines that better than last-minute winners, especially when the tensions are high and the stakes are even higher. Because on their own, last-minute goals are epic heart-breakers but add a pinch of stakes, and it becomes better.
After all with league titles, trophies, and glory all available at the kick of a ball, why wouldn’t things be a tight-stringed affair? So to cap all that effort, hard work, and determination off with a dramatic yet legend-inspiring last-minute goal, few things could be more cathartic. Mind you, this isn’t the perfect list because, in a game that spans over 200 years, we’re bound to miss one, two, or ten.
Thus, because there are so many great last-minute goals, it’s truly tough to fit all of them into the list but that doesn’t in any way diminish their greatness or just how cool it was when the ball hit the net. That being said here are ten of the best last minute goals– that counted– in football’s modern history.
10. Nacer Chadli: Belgium 3-2 Japan (2018 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16)
Picture this. It’s the summer of 2018 and the FIFA World Cup is going on as Japan faces Belgium in a big last-16 clash in Rostov. The Samurai Blue have won plaudits but Belgium are the clear favourites until…Japan scored twice in the second half, leaving the Red Devils with lots to do.
The lead didn’t last for long as a thumping Jan Vertonghen header gave Belgium some hope before Marouane Fellaini’s did his bit to level the scoreline. Yet Japan were the better side, creating chance after chance but falling short at the final third as Belgium hung on for extra-time.
Then came the moment, a sweeping counter-attack and in an instance Lukaku had a chance. He leapt over it, Japan watched in shock as Nacer Chadli rushed at the far post and lashed home the finish.
9. Ben Watson: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City (2013 FA Cup – final)
It’s end of the 2012/13 season and the FA Cup final is on Tv with Manchester City back in it again. They’ve been pipped to the league title by Manchester United, beaten by Aston Villa in shocking fashion to the EFL cup and are looking for a trophy. Shockingly, it’s Wigan Athletic in their way and few give the Lactics a chance to win the trophy.
Yet for 90 minutes they held strong, created chance after chance and caused City a few problems with Roberto Mancini’s men down to 10 as well. But still, 1 minute into 3 of added time and there’s no goal as Shaun Maloney swings in a corner.
It’s perfect, Ben Watson leaps the highest and 80,000 fans at Wembley hold their breath as the ball loops over Joe Hart and into the net. Just like that, Wigan Athletic’s 81-year old trophy drought is over…even if they were relegated from the Premier League.
8. Fabio Grosso: Italy 1-0 Germany (2006 FIFA World Cup – semi-final)
Everyone knows, football fans and those who never heard of the game, what happened during the 2006 World Cup finals. But the semi-finals had it’s own share of drama, with both games going down to the wire for the eventual finalists. More so for Italy than France as they were up against Germany, a favourite to win the trophy.
But the Azzurri’s brand of defensive football meant that the game was goalless going into the final minutes of extra-time as Italy stepped up for a corner. It wasn’t a great cross and cleared well by the Germans but the ball fell for Pirlo on the edge of the area. He dribbles, sends it to Fabio Grosso without looking, who swings his foot at the ball. Bang!! 1-0 Italy.
Grosso sprints half the length of the field, Buffon the other half as the Germans watch on stunned. So stunned, that Alessandro Del Piero added a second mere minutes later to seal the deal.
7. Sergio Ramos: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (2013/14 Champions League final)
With Real Madrid chasing La Decima, only fellow rivals Atletico Madrid sat in their way during the 2013/14 Champions League final as Diego Simeone’s men took an early lead. The Los Rojiblancos had already lifted that season’s La Liga title and were on course for a historic double.
Then Atleti took a 36th minute lead and from there on in, Simeone’s men did what they do best and parked the bus. They defended superbly, kept their lines tight and Real Madrid out as the Los Blancos tried, and tried, and tried, and tried to find their equaliser. It seemed as if all was over as Real Madrid stepped up for one last corner in the 94th minute.
It was probably going to be the last kick of the ball as Sergio Ramos rose highest and thundered a header into the net much to the shock of everyone watching. The match went into extra-time…and Real Madrid ended up scoring three more times to lift La Decima.
6. Arjen Robben: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich (2012/13 Champions League final)
Borussia Dortmund had won the 2011/12 Bundesliga and DFB Pokal but Bayern Munich had pinched both trophies from the Germans this season. So much so, that Klopp’s side finished second to Bayern in both competitions but they reached the Champions League final to face….Bayern Munich. They had one last chance to do something and try they did as Dortmund pressured their rivals.
Chance after chance was created but the breakthrough only came in the second half through Mandžukić before Gundogan equalised from the spot. That seemed to be that as both sides waited for extra-time but then, a minute left from time and Franck Ribery back-heels a pass into Arjen Robben. He flew past the tired defense, and just about scuffed his shot past the keeper to stun Dortmund yet again.
5. Troy Deeney: Watford 3-2 (on agg) Leicester City (2012/13 Championship playoff semi-final 2nd leg)
The stage is set. Watford are 2-1 up in the second leg and since Leicester City won the first-leg 1-0, the game is going to extra time as the clock hits 95. Then the Foxes win a penalty, Anthony Knockaert steps up and the stadium goes silent as Vicarage Road watches on. He takes, Manuel Almunia saves, Knockaert goes again from the rebound, Almunia saves again.
And then….it’s history. Watford fly forward, down the right wing, the cross is perfect for Hogg who nods it down into the path of Troy Deeney. His run is perfect, the gap has opened up and Deeney sends the ball home as Vicarage Road erupts with joy. 19 seconds from penalty to goal, 19 seconds for footballing folklore.
4. Andres Iniesta: Spain 1-0 Netherlands (2010 FIFA World Cup final)
Spain’s first World Cup final in their history and it’s their golden generation up against a resolute but entertaining Netherlands side lead by Bert van Marwijk. They did after all manage to reach a World Cup final beating Uruguay and Brazil along the way while Spain beat Paraguay and Germany. It meant that while both sides had hit double figures for shots, the game went into extra-time.
Even then, nothing could separate the two as the clock ticked on into the final minutes of the second half of extra-time as Spain played out from the back. The ball went to Fernando Torres, his pass was intercepted but fell for Cesc Fabregas who sends it to Andres Iniesta inside the area. One touch with his right foot and then…BANG!!!! The Spaniard fired it into the net beyond a hapless Maarten Stekelenburg.
3. Michael Thomas: Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool (Final game of 1988/89 First Division League)
Because of the Hillsborough disaster, the 1988/89 season was extended by a few months and it meant that this game was moved until after the FA Cup final. Liverpool won that but had been neck and neck for the title with Arsenal but they held a three-point lead going into the final game. It also meant that the Gunners had to win and, because of goals difference, they needed to do so by at least 2 goals.
History was against the Gunners as Liverpool had not lost by two or more at Anfield in three years while Arsenal hadn’t won there in fifteen. But then Alan Smith scored one, eight minutes into the second half and it had fans hoping for a miracle.
Yet Liverpool did their best to hold their ground but then with less than two minutes left, a long ball was fired forward. Smith flicked it into space, found a charging Michael Thomas who danced past Steve Nicol and scored an iconic title winning goal.
2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1998/99 Champions League final)
Both sides entered the Champions League final aiming to win trebles, having won league titles and domestic cups in their respective countries. But then, Bayern Munich took an early 6th minute lead and it meant that Manchester United’s hopes were dashed. Or were they? The Red Devils fought back and fought their hearts out but Bayern held on resolutely to their lead.
Until the 90th minute as the Red Devils stepped up for a corner. David Beckham swung it in, it fell for Dwight Yorke but it was cleared which fell for Ryan Giggs and he swung his foot at it. It was poorly struck but Teddy Sheringham was in the right spot and poked it home 36 seconds into extra-time. 1-1 and the game restarted but 30 seconds later and the game is back at the corner.
Beckham again, this time finding Sheringham inside the area whose header was weak but flew across goal where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was waiting. His toe poke was perfect and the rest is history.
1. Sergio Aguero: Manchester City 3-2 QPR (Final game of 2011/12 Premier League)
Ten games taking place at the same time, two teams vying for the title and only one can win it, that sounds oddly familiar doesn’t it? This is the 2011/12 season and both Manchester clubs are tied at the top of the table for first place on points with a game to play but City’s goal difference was higher.
Then QPR took a 2-1 lead until injury time and suddenly it all changed. Manchester United fans were celebrating, having beaten Sunderland, another title as Dzeko equalises in the 92nd minute. Hope was back for City fans but it took two whole minutes before Mario Balotelli slipped Sergio Aguero into the area. The Argentine didn’t miss and City lifted their first league title in over 40 years.
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