The 10 most dramatic last-minute goals of the last 20 years
Anthony Martial's winning goal against Everton in the FA Cup semifinals came in the very last minute of stoppage time, and sent Manchester United into their first cup final since 2007.
It was the type of exhilarating, insane, heart-pounding finish that reminds us why we fell in love with the sport to begin with. Luckily, we've been blessed with more than a handful of those over the last twenty years.
Indeed, Martial's last-gasp winner couldn't even crack our top ten goals scored in the 90th minute or later over the last two decades. These did:
Dennis Bergkamp, Netherlands vs Argentina, 1998 World Cup quarterfinal
The Arsenal legend needed three touches to arguably produce the finest last-minute winner of all time. With extra time lurking in this World Cup quarterfinal, Frank de Boer launched a hopeful 60-yard pass into the Argentine end. Bergkamp effortlessly plucked the ball from the air, cut inside of Roberto Ayala and stabbed the ball past Carlos Roa to deliver the Dutch one of their most memorable goals in their storied history. Here, watch it on YouTube, it's worth it. We'll wait.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, 1999 Champions League Final
This may not have been a very memorable final for the first 90 minutes, but there has never been a more spectacular, unlikely ending to one than United's two-goal stoppage time comeback against Bayern. After fellow substitute Teddy Sheringham got United level off a David Beckham corner in the 91st minute, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put the ball in the Germans' net just two minutes later, off another Beckham corner, sending United to their first ever treble and breaking Bayern's hearts in the cruelest way possible. "Football, bloody hell," Sir Alex Ferguson later famously quipped.
Patrik Andersson, Bayern Munich vs Hamburg, 2001 Bundesliga final matchday
Schalke's players and fans were already hugging each other on the pitch, wildly celebrating their first title in the Bundesliga era after a 5-3 win against Unterhaching. Bayern had just conceded a 90th minute goal at Hamburg, and everyone thought it was over. But stoppage time extended into the 4th minute, where on the very final play of the season Andersson scored on an indirect free kick in Hamburg's penalty box to swipe the title right out of Schalke's hands.
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool vs West Ham, 2006 FA Cup Final
Dubbed the greatest FA Cup final in history, Liverpool were down 3-2 to the Hammers when Gerrard began to suffer from cramps just minutes from time. But in the 91st minute, the Reds legend took aim from about 37 yards and found the back of the net with a howitzer of a goal. The equalizer destroyed West Ham psychologically, and Liverpool went on to win their 7th FA Cup on penalties.
Andres Iniesta, Chelsea vs Barcelona, 2009 Champions League semifinal
A second straight Chelsea-Man United final beckoned after Michael Essien had given the Blues an early 1-0 lead and Eric Abidal was sent off for Barcelona in a highly controversial, poorly-refereed second leg at Stamford Bridge. But with just seconds of stoppage time remaining, Lionel Messi rolled the ball over to Iniesta, who fired a shot into the top corner from just outside the box and send Chelsea crashing out on away goals. Barcelona would beat United in the final, while Iniesta a few years later would score another hugely important late winner, albeit in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final.
Landon Donovan, USA vs Algeria, 2010 World Cup group stage
Arguably the most iconic goal in U.S. Soccer history, Donovan's injury-time winner against Algeria did much more than save the USMNT into the Round of 16. It was a seminal moment for the entire soccer fan culture in the U.S. Desperately needing a win to advance and with the score still 0-0 in the dying moments of the match, Donovan took Tim Howard's toss across midfield and played it out wide to Jozy Altidore, whose cross found Clint Dempsey but was kept out by the Algeria goalkeeper. Donovan, though, had finished his run and put away the rebound, sending the entire country into ecstasy. Enjoy:
Abby Wambach, USA vs Brazil, 2011 World Cup quarterfinal
The USWNT trailed Brazil 2-1 down a player in stoppage time of extra time, staring at its earliest Women's World Cup defeat in the team's history. Then, in the 122nd minute, right-winger Megan Rapinoe, using her non-dominant left foot, launched one final cross 40 yards across the pitch towards the far post. As Brazil's goalkeeper sailed past the ball, Abby Wambach met it with her head to improbably send the game into penalties, where the U.S. advanced.
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City vs QPR, 2012 Premier League final matchday
"Sergio AguerooooOOOOOoooOOOO!"
For a couple of minutes, Manchester United looked like they had their sixth Premier League title in seven years in the bag. They had just beaten Sunderland on the final day, whereas rivals Man City were shockingly behind 2-1 against 10-man QPR in the 90th minute. City needed two goals to do the unthinkable, but after Edin Dzeko leveled in the 92nd minute, Sergio Aguero scored the winner in the 94th minute to clinch the title on goal difference. We can still hear Martin Tyler's call on Aguero's goal, which gave City their first title since 1968.
Ben Watson, Wigan vs Manchester City, 2013 FA Cup Final
Do you believe in miracles? Wigan were about as great a long-shot in a major cup final as a club could be. Their relegation from the Premier League was a near certainty by kickoff, while last year's league champions City were striving for their second FA Cup in three years. But the Latics pulled it off, with Ben Watson heading home the decisive goal off a corner kick in stoppage time. Wigan became the first club to lift the cup and get relegated the same season, while City fired Roberto Mancini two days later.
Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, 2014 Champions League Final
Real Madrid were on the verge of seeing La Decima slip through their fingers, at their hands of city rivals Atletico, no less, when Ramos' towering header in the 3rd minute of stoppage time tied it up and sent the Champions League final into extra time. From there, Real went on to score three goals and win the trophy for a record tenth time, their first since 2002.
