A fiery football match isn’t considered over until the very last goal and that’s what keeps the audience hooked on the game till the very last minute. The last-minute goals can undoubtedly change the fate of the teams on the field of football and therefore are considered to be the most dramatic and nerve-wracking experience for both the teams and the audience. Last-minute goals are usually epic and unveil a whole new streak of heart-pounding moments for the fans. The history of football has witnessed numerous such instances where last-minute goals changed the whole course of the game and left the fans shocked at the end.
List of Top Five Most Dramatic Last-Minute Goals in Football History
- Liverpool vs West Ham at the 2006 FA Cup Final
Well, the on-field rivalry between Liverpool and West Ham clubs was undoubtedly in the air during the nail-biting FA Cup Final match in 2006. Just when the Liverpool fans were on the verge of witnessing their biggest heartbreak as they were losing the game 3-2 to West Ham, Liverpool’s Steve Gerrard smashed a half-volley from 25 yards and ended up scoring a last-minute goal for Liverpool. Liverpool went ahead and defeated West Ham to clinch the FA Cup in 2016 and ultimately left the fans of both the clubs shocked.
- England vs West Germany at the 1996 World Cup
At the second spot in our list of the top five most dramatic and intense last-minute goals in the history of football, we have the iconic faceoff between England and West Germany at the 1996 World Cup. After 90 minutes, the score was tied at 2-2, drawing the match into extra time, which proved to be a gamechanger for England. In the final moments of extra time, England’s Geoff Hurst smashed a last-minute goal for his team, which hit the crossbar and bounced down onto the goal line. Although West Germany and its supporters considered it to be foul, stating that the ball hadn’t crossed the line, the referee announced it to be a clear goal, making England the ultimate winner at the 1996 World Cup.
- Arsenal vs Liverpool at the 2001 FA Cup Final
Often hailed as the “Michael Owen Final”, the 2001 FA Cup Final is still revered as one of the most thrilling and intense matches in the history of football that kept the audience hooked till the very last minute. Although Arsenal was in the lead after 72 minutes, Michael Owen scored an equalizer in the 80th minute and pushed the match into thrilling suspense. Just eight minutes later, in the 88th minute of the spine-chilling match, Liverpool’s Michael Owen scored a sensational match-winning goal for his team.
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- Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid at the 2014 Champions League Final
The 2014 Champions League Final in Lisbon witnessed one of the most thrilling and memorable last-minute goals by Sergio Ramos, which strongly led the momentum right for Real Madrid. Real Madrid were all set to chase their 10th Champions League title when their hopes were shattered by Atlético Madrid’s formidable 1-0 score on the field. Although the fans of Real Madrid had no hopes left of winning the title, Sergio Ramos unleashed a terrific equalizer goal in the 93rd minute of the match, taking it into extra time, and Real Madrid ultimately went on to clinch their 10th Champions League title, defeating Atlético Madrid.
- Wigan vs Manchester City at the 2013 FA Cup Final
Next, at the fifth spot in our list of the top five most dramatic and intense last-minute goals in the history of football, we have a breathtaking goal from Wigan’s Ben Watson against Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup Final. Well, the match-winning goal from Ben Watson was nothing short of a miracle and nobody could possibly see it coming. While Manchester City, who had already clinched the league the previous year, were all in to claim their second victory in the 2013 season when Ben Watson shocked everyone on the field by scoring a phenomenal header from a corner in stoppage time, taking the score to 1-0. In a shocking turn of events, Manchester City sacked their then manager Roberto Mancini just a few days after their defeat in the 2013 FA Cup Final against Wigan.
