One of the things that makes the game of football a beautiful one is the uncertainty of outcome. Throughout the 90 minutes of a football game, it is impossible to predict what the result of the match will be. A game that might seem like a foregone conclusion can very well change dramatically in the last few minutes.
Just like the SF Watches that keep track of every moment, football teams take each minute of the match into consideration with players giving their all for their respective teams. The fitness of the players are tested as they push themselves to the limits in the same manner that an SF watch endures through any physically enduring task.
Some of the late goals scored in a match go on to make a bigger impact than just changing the scoreline. Here we take a look at five such instances when late goals turned the match around.
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#5 – Dejan Lovren for Liverpool against Borussia Dortmund (2016)
It is impossible to create a list of comeback goals or wins that does not involve Liverpool. The Reds, through much of their recent history, have made a habit of winning matches in the most dramatic manners. The most recent one was during their 2015/16 Europa League quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund.
With the first leg having ended 1-1 at the Westfalenstadion, the tie was certain to be an exciting one at Anfield. After Dortmund scored two goals within the first nine minutes, it all looked bleak for the home side, who were trailing 3-1 on aggregate. Despite Divock Origi’s 48th minute goal that pulled one back, Marco Reus’ sublime finish in the 57th made it nearly impossible for a comeback.
However, Mamadou Sakho’s header in the 77th minute gave some hope. Liverpool kept pushing and finally reaped the benefits of their resolve as Dejan Lovren rose highest to meet James Milner’s cross, thus sending Liverpool into the semi-finals and an electric Anfield into delirium.
#4 – Troy Deeney for Watford against Leicester City (2013)
The Football League Championship (now known as the English Football League (EFL) Championship) playoffs is one of the most important fixtures for four clubs from the Championship. During the 2012/13 playoffs, current Premier League sides Watford met Leicester City in the semi-finals.
David Nugent’s goal gave The Foxes a 1-0 lead after the first leg and they would have believed that they could go all the way. Matej Vydra’s goal in the 15th minute gave Watford some early hope, however, all that diminished after Nugent scored four minutes later.
Vydra found the net in the second half to level the aggregate scores, thus instilling in the Hornets a belief that they could win. Deep into injury time, referee Michael Oliver awarded Leicester a penalty. Anthony Knockaert stepped up to take the kick and would have hoped that he could put the tie to bed. But, Manuel Almunia’s double save led to a counter attack from Watford that led to Troy Deeney thumping the ball into the back of the net in the 97th minute of the game causing Vicarage Road to erupt.
#3 – Sergio Ramos for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid (2014)
After Atletico Madrid had wrapped up their 10th Spanish league title in the 2013/14 season, Real Madrid were looking to add a 10th European Cup to their trophy cabinet in the UEFA Champions League final. The last time Los Blancos had won it was in the 2001/02 season. It looked like their wait of over a decade would continue after Atletico held fort after Diego Godin’s 36th minute goal.
Despite Real Madrid’s numerous attempts, they were unable to penetrate the resolute Atletico defence. That is, until the 93rd minute, when Sergio Ramos leaped up to meet Luka Modric’s corner and perfectly head it into the goal thus extending the match by 30 minutes. That breakthrough Ramos found opened the floodgates as Real Madrid added three more goals in extra time to win by a flattering 4-1 score-line.
#2 – Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero for Manchester City against QPR (2012)
Of the four league titles Manchester City have to their name, two of them came in the last five years. The first of the two arrived in the 2011/12 season after a 44-year-long wait. The manner in which the title came to the blue half of Manchester is one none of the Man City (or even Premier League) fans will ever forget.
Going into the final match-week, both Manchester City and Manchester United were level on points, with City leading their cross-town rivals on goal difference. After Pablo Zabaleta gave Man City the lead, the home fans would have breathed easy with their team leading at half-time. 20 minutes into the second half and QPR were leading the home side despite being a man down.
Man City would not find any equaliser in normal time and it was not until two minutes into injury time that Edin Dzeko’s header from a corner gave the home side some lifeline. Man United’s match had ended with the Red Devils sealing a 1-0 win. The match at the Etihad Stadium was into the fifth minute of injury time when Mario Balotelli played Sergio Aguero through who had it anything but easy and lashed the ball into the net to give Man City the most dramatic English Premier League title win.
#1 – Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Manchester United against Bayern Munich (1999)
Three minutes of injury time left. A packed Camp Nou waiting with bated breath to see who will be crowned the last UEFA Champions League winner of the millennium. Mario Basler’s sixth-minute free kick had been enough for Bayern Munich to maintain the lead by the end of normal time. But, little did they know that Man United were one of the most adventurous teams when it came to late goals. Somewhat similar to the users of SF watches who love adventure and pushing the limits.
David Beckham’s corner in the first minute of injury time was not cleared out well enough by the Bayern defenders and fell to Ryan Giggs, whose miskick fell to Teddy Sheringham, whose miskick fell in the back of the net levelling the scores. It looked like Man United had forced extra time.
At this point of time, there was only one time in the ascendency and in the third and final minute of injury time, Man United won another corner. Beckham sent in another good delivery which Sheringham got his head to and flicked it back towards the goal where Solskjaer reacted quickest, sticking his foot out and sending the ball into the roof of the net.
In a matter of around two minutes, Manchester United went from being Champions League runners-up to Champions League winners and, as Clive Tyldesley put it, “reached the Promised Land.”
Scoring these goals required brilliant timing, extreme fitness and durability, just like the SF Watches, who are the perfect partner for an adventurous outing.
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