In a game where goals and goalscorers often grab all the credit and headlines, there have always been some legendary players tasked with the job of stopping them. Some of the best saves in the history of the game have often coincided with momentous occasions – from the saves made by Buffon to stop France running away with the World Cup in 2006 to several contributions by Peter Schmeichel in United’s treble-winning campaign that are impossible to explain even to this day.
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The most important of them have often seen their side win continental glory or embark on unimaginably successful campaigns, and here’s a list of five of the best:
#5 David Seaman – Arsenal vs Sheffield United
With his side leading 1–0 in the semi-final of the FA Cup in 2003, David Seaman pulled off an incredible reflex save that would gain Arsenal a solitary goal victory and keep them on course to retain the trophy they won the previous year – a feat that hadn’t been achieved in twenty years.
It was a season they had lost their Premier League crown to Manchester United in spite of Wenger claiming in the pre-season that he felt they could go through the season undefeated.
The save and resultant victory in the tournament would inspire them to do just that – the famed invincibles would go through the next season of the Premier League unbeaten – built on the back of this one fantastic save.
#4 Tony Parks – Tottenham Hotspur vs Anderlecht
In the UEFA Cup final of 1984, Tottenham took on defending champions Anderlecht and the two-legged tie went down to the wire having finished 2–2 on aggregate. While later investigations would reveal that Anderlecht had made their way into the final with a dubious penalty – having paid a bribe to the referee – Tony Parks ensured there would be no penalty celebrations for the Belgian side with this phenomenal save that won the Spurs their second UEFA Cup.
It was a sentimental trophy for the London side as well, having been the winners in the first ever edition of the tournament in 1972 – a feat they have failed to achieve ever since.
#3 Petr Cech – Chelsea vs Bayern Munich
In the Champions League final of 2012, Chelsea took on Bayern Munich at the German giants’ home stadium with the hopes of putting their heartbreaking loss on penalties in 2008 behind them. Their hopes were saved not once but twice – first with a late equaliser by Drogba to cancel out Muller’s 83rd minute goal and then by this fantastic penalty save by Petr Cech who kept out Robben’s low drive in extra time to take the match to penalties.
They would win 4–3 to make history as the first London club to win the trophy, and in a game where Bayern had 35 shots – 7 on target – Petr Cech would be voted the fans’ man of the match.
#2 Edwin van der Sar – Manchester United vs Chelsea
In an all-English Champions League final with more than just the trophy at stake, Manchester United would rely on their long-term custodian to pull off a decisive penalty save from Nicolas Anelka to emerge champions.
In a penalty shootout already laced with drama – Terry’s slip letting United off the hook – Dutchman van der Sar would guess the right way making Cristiano Ronaldo sob happy tears into the pitch.
An old nemesis of Chelsea, having pulled off 3 consecutive penalty shootout saves against them earlier in the FA Cup, van der Sar made one of the most important contributions to the history of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.
#1 Jerzy Dudek – Liverpool vs AC Milan
A moment that is often overlooked when discussing Liverpool’s famous comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final of 2005, Dudek’s double save seemed as if intended by destiny.
While a goalkeeper of his standing would be expected to make the first of the two saves, the second was nothing short of a miracle to deny the marauding Shevchenko from only a couple yards out. The expression on the striker’s face and Dudek’s own reactions say it all.
As destiny would have it, Liverpool would go on to win the final on penalties – with Dudek to thank for keeping the scores level at 3–3 and giving them a chance.
