Top ten late goals

On the back of Doncaster's last gasp heroics to win promotion we pay homage to dramatic 'Fergie time' goals.

Michael Thomas - Liverpool v Arsenal, 1989

It's probably worth remembering what a task Arsenal faced in the final game of the 1989 season. You'll know they needed to beat Liverpool, defending champions, by two goals in order to claim the title, but what is sometimes forgotten is that Liverpool hadn't been defeated by two goals at Anfield for nearly four years - they had also gone since January 1 without losing, drawing only three of their previous 18 league games. What's also often forgotten is the starting line-up George Graham picked for this game that absolutely required goals and suggested attacking play was the way to go - five at the back, with David O'Leary acting as a sweeper and Alan Smith on his own up front. Perry Groves, a sub for Arsenal that day, explained Graham's thinking: "It was tactical genius because his plan was to get in at half-time 0-0. 'If we concede the first goal we're finished,' he said. 'You ain't going to score three. It just doesn't happen [at Anfield]. But if we get in at half-time 0-0 we've won half the battle, and then we'll have a chat at half-time and I fancy us to nick a goal in the second half, and if we do then it's all about momentum, pressure gets to people. If we can score, the momentum will change and all the pressure then goes on Liverpool.'" And he was right. Alan Smith scored the opener after 54 minutes, but for the next half an hour it was tricky to tell who was more nervous, with Liverpool terrified of conceding another, and Arsenal knowing it was all so close. Then Thomas skipped through, Brian Moore provided one of the great commentary snippets of all time, and the title was Arsenal's. "Looking back at Michael Thomas's goal, some people say it was like watching in slow motion, but it didn't seem that way to me," said Peter Beardsley years later. "Looking on from close quarters, it was like watching at double speed. He seemed to be running at 100mph, and I remember thinking: 'How are we going to stop him? He's going to score."

Matt Le Tissier - Southampton v Arsenal, 2001

Most of the goals on this list have been picked for their drama, for causing the raw surge of emotion that only a last-ditch winner or equaliser can, but this one is pure sentiment. In 2001 Southampton were set to leave The Dell, their home of 103 years, for the new shiny St Mary's. Their final game was against Arsenal who, rather unsportingly, twice took the lead but were pegged back both times, before the by-then-creaking Le Tissier was brought on, and in the 89th minute he volleyed in the winner. It was the last goal at the Dell, scored by arguably the club's greatest ever player, and it turned out to be his final goal in professional football, too. Don't pretend that doesn't make you feel a little bit fuzzy.

Inter v Sampdoria, 2005

This one is not so much 'just' a last-minute goal, but an extraordinary late comeback from a seemingly impossible position. Having dominated Sampdoria, Inter did what Inter were wont to do around this time, and allowed their opponents to take a 2-0 lead in the 83rd minute. They kept pressing, but as the clock reached 90 minutes it seemed all was lost. Then Obafemi Martins (at that point a sprightly 37) pulled one back, before setting up Christian Vieri for an equaliser, then as the clock ticked over to 93 minutes, Alvaro Recoba launched one from 25 yards. The crowd (or at least those who stayed in the stadium) went wild, but Roberto Mancini's scarf and fringe remained immaculate.

Raddy Antic - Manchester City v Luton, 1983

The fixture list can be wonderful, sometimes. The relegation scrap in the 1982/3 season went down to the very final day - Swansea and Brighton were already down, but Luton sat third bottom on 46 points, with Manchester City a place about them with 47. Of course, Luton faced City in the last game at Maine Road, with a point enough to keep the hosts up and send the visitors to Division Two. As the clock ticked down, that was exactly the scenario, with City holding on at 0-0, tackles and blocks flying in as Luton looked for the winner that would save them. Then Luton attacked down the right, City keeper Alex Williams flapped a cross into the path of substitute Raddy Antic, who spanked the ball into the bottom corner, keeping the Hatters up and sending City down. Cue that dyspraxic skipping celebration from David Pleat.

Robbie Keane - Ireland v Germany, 2002 World Cup

This goal had everything. An underdog against one of the established powers of world football, who would go on to reach the final of the competition; said leading power taking the lead; constant pressure from the leading power to get a second goal; a 92nd minute equaliser to claim a crucial point for the underdogs; and ultimate tragedy, after Ireland were eliminated on penalties by Spain in the second round. It also featured Mick McCarthy's own personal tribute to David Pleat, skipping down the touchline with as much grace, 19 years on.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - Manchester United v Bayern Munich, 1999

"Tonight it was not the best team that won but the luckiest... It's bitter, sad and unbelievable. We're all disappointed. You can't blame the team. We had the match in control for 90 minutes. We had bad luck, hitting the post and the crossbar. What happened afterwards is simply inexplicable." So said Lothar Matthaus, who had been substituted by the time Solskjaer won the Champions League for Manchester United. Good to see he took defeat so well. Still, it is easy to forget that Matthaus had a point - Bayern were the better side for the majority of what was a fairly poor game, but none of that mattered when first Teddy Sheringham then Solskjaer popped up. "I had a premonition I was going to do something that night," said Solskjaer a few years ago. "Ninety-nine times out of 100, that would go into the hands of Kahn or on the head of the guy on the line." Solskjaer actually damaged ligaments in his knee celebrating that goal, and some speculate that contributed to the injury that would rule him out for 18 months a few years later, and eventually end his career. Not that he seems to bothered about that, of course - after a moment like that, he probably would have been satisfied if he'd never kicked a ball again.

Jimmy Glass - Carlisle v Plymouth, 1999

"The ball goes out now for a corner to Carlisle United - will they have time to take it? Referee looks at his watch ... and here comes Jimmy Glass! Carlisle United goalkeeper Jimmy Glass is coming up for the kick - everyone is going up ... there isn't one player in the Carlisle half! Well, well ... and the corner kick comes in ... and ... the goalkeeper's punch ... oh ... Jimmy Glass! Jimmy Glass! Jimmy Glass, the goalkeeper, has scored a goal for Carlisle United! There's a pitch invasion! There is a pitch invasion! The referee has been swamped - they're bouncing on the crossbar!" That's how BBC Radio Cumbria commentator Derek Lacey described Jimmy Glass, the goalkeeper only on loan at Carlisle because they'd sold their first-choice keeper, scoring the goal that kept them in the Football League. Lacey said afterwards: "When Jimmy Glass scored I just forgot everything else. It just went on a personal note. I turned to my co-commentator Graham Moss and said 'I'm sorry, you're going to have to carry on.'" Even the impartial guardians of the Beeb can get all emotional sometimes.

Spain v Yugoslavia, Euro 2000

To call this one 'topsy-turvy' is about as big an understatement as is possible to make in football. In the final group game, Yugoslavia took the lead, only for Spain to equalise eight minutes later. Yugoslavia then took the lead again, only for Spain to equalise one minute later. Yugoslavia then took the lead again, but Spain couldn't find a response. At this stage, the Spanish were heading out, whatever the result in the other game between Norway and Slovenia. Then in the 94th minute they were awarded a penalty, which Gaizka Mendieta rolled home, but that still would not have been enough. A frantic two minutes followed, before Alfonso, who was about to sign for Barcelona, swept home. A 4-3 win, and they were through. Just.

Rivaldo - Barcelona v Valencia, 2001

There's a tradition in Spain. Club presidents of opposing teams sit together to watch games, but it is considered extremely poor form to celebrate goals. That's why cameras will cut to Sandro Rosell or Florentino Perez after Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo have just banged in their billionth goals of the season, and the big cheeses will just smile benignly, rather than whooping it up big style. Joan Gaspart broke that tradition in the final minute of the final game of the 2000/1 season, and with good cause, too. Barcelona faced Valencia at the Nou Camp, three points behind their opponents and knowing that only a win would secure their place in the Champions League. Rivaldo had already scored both of Barca's goals as the clock ticked down with the score at 2-2, Valencia closing ranks, happy with the point that would secure fourth place for them. In the 89th minute Frank de Boer chipped a vaguely hopeful ball to the edge of the penalty area, which Rivaldo controlled on his chest, and instead of taking the sensible route of bringing the ball down and looking for a teammate in a better position, he launched the most audacious bicycle kick into the corner of the net. The Nou Camp, Gaspart included, lost their sh*t. "I celebrated Rivaldo's goal as a Barcelona fan because my character makes it humanly impossible for me to hold back," Gaspart said after the game. "I had already apologized to the Valencia delegation beforehand." The very essence of the last-minute winner.

Agueeerrrrrooooooooo - Manchester City v QPR, 2012

Sergio Aguero winning the Premier League for Manchester City with the last kick of the season was the kind of phenomenal occurence that will forever remain etched in the memories of all who witnessed it. So incredible it seemed almost fictitious. A Michael Thomas moment for the Premier League generation. Just as Moore's classic line ("It's up for grabs now!") still comes to mind when you picture the Thomas goal, so Martin Tyler's commentary reverberates when Aguero's heroics are replayed, so we'll let the man himself say it - Manchester United fans, you should have stopped reading by now. "Manchester united have done all they can, three goals enough for three points. Manchester City are still alive here... Balotelli... Agueeerrrrrooooooooo!! I swear you will never see anything like this ever again! So watch it and drink it in. They've just had the news at the Stadium of Light, two goals in added time for Manchester City to snatch the title away from Manchester United... stupendous!" Over on Soccer Saturday, Paul Merson had a slightly different if no less entertaining take on things. "There's a chance, there's a chance... Aguero... it's a goooooaaaaaal! Aguero, what a goal, Geoff... it's 3-2! I've never seen anything like this, it's gone mad, it's gone mad Geoff! Mancini's on the pitch running around, they're all cuddling each other, they've got love bites and everything!" This article first appeared on Football365