Top 5 last-minute goals in the Premier League

Everyone but the team that concedes and its set of fans, cherish last-minute rescues which emancipate their anxiety and frustration.

Undoubtedly, many premier league matches have been decided in the dying minutes. These matches and the goals scored in the dying minutes would be remembered by the players and fans alike for many years to come.

Here are some of the goals that determined the result of those spectacular matches.

#5 Robin Van Persie vs Manchester City(9th December 2012)

Over the last decade, the importance of the Manchester derby has risen exponentially. Not too long ago, the Citizens were considered just a small pebble in Manchester United's road to the title, however, an injection of money in the club has changed the dynamics of the Premier League.

The 2012-13 league campaign started with Manchester United looking to respond to their local rival's premiership triumph. Both the teams were appearing slightly sluggish in the early parts of the season and were separated by only three points after 15 games. On 9th December 2012, Manchester City got the chance to close the three-point gap at Etihad while Manchester United were looking to take back all the bragging rights.

Although the Citizens started the match with a lot of possession, the away team scored in the 16th minute and doubled their lead in the 29th minute. Meanwhile, the champions had already suffered a massive blow in the 21st minute when captain Vincent Kompany picked up a groin injury. 15 minutes into the second half, Yaya Toure picked a goal back for Manchester City, setting up an enthralling half an hour.

Finally, in the 85th minute, the Citizens got the equaliser they were desperately searching for. The match then took another twist in the stoppage time when Van Persie's curling free-kick took a deflection off Nasri's dangling leg and entered the goal.

Crazy celebrations followed the goal during which, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, was hit by a coin thrown by one of the fans. Ferdinand received a cut above his left eye and as he was trying to recover when a Manchester City fan stormed towards him but was stopped by Joe Hart.

#4 Federico Macheda vs Aston Villa(5th April 2009)

Manchester United began their 2008-09 league campaign with the aim of securing a third straight premier league triumph. By mid-March, the Red Devils were seven points ahead of their closest competitors Liverpool. Having already lost to them at Anfield, they welcomed the Reds on March 14 with the aim of stretching the points gap but ended up collapsing to a 1-4 defeat.

The Massacre against Liverpool was followed by another loss at Craven Cottage which, the Reds took advantage of and reduced the points gap to one by 4th April. On 5th April, Manchester United played Aston Villa at Old Trafford and opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Aston Villa, however, replied with two goals in the 30th and the 58th minute of the game to put Sir Alex's men under crumbling pressure.

In the 61st minute of the game, Ferguson brought off Nani for a little known 17-year-old academy graduate Federico Macheda. With 10 minutes remaining on the clock, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized sending the match into "Fergie Time." The 17-year-old nobody turned and curled a shot into the far corner in injury time to give Manchester United three massive points. Following their win against Aston Villa, the club collected 22 points from the remaining 8 games and eventually won the league.

#3 Steve Bruce vs Sheffield Wednesday(10th April 1993)

When Sir Alex Ferguson first took the Manchester United job, the club was struggling miserably to the point of facing relegation. The Scot immediately took strict disciplinary measures and formed a team physically and mentally capable of challenging for trophies. Over the next six years, the Red Devils enjoyed a lot of success in cup competitions winning the FA Cup, the League Cup as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup. However, Manchester United could not reproduce the same in the domestic league.

The year 1992 saw the introduction of the Premier League which took the place of the earlier First Division Championship. In spite of all the success, he brought to the club, Sir Alex was under pressure to deliver the league title which the club hadn't won in 25 years. After dropping massive points in the early parts of the season, Manchester United started bridging the gap at the top of the table in December.

On 5th April 1993, United defeated league leaders Norwich and reduced their point gap to eight. Norwich went on to lose again four days later and Manchester United's hopes of a league triumph fired up. The Red Devils played Sheffield Wednesday on 10th April 1993. Contrary to their expectations, Sheffield Wednesday went one up in the 64th minute when Paul Ince conceded a penalty.

Steve Bruce who had always been a threat from set pieces took the job of giving Manchester United a much-needed win and scored two headers in the 85th and 96th minute of the game. Manchester United won the game 2-1 and went on to lift the league for the first time in 26 years.

#2 Stan Collymore vs Newcastle United (3 April 1996)

The encounter between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield during the 1995-96 season is considered by many to be the greatest Premier League match of all time. Going into the match, everyone knew that its result could change the course of the season. At that stage of the season, Newcastle were 3 points behind leaders Manchester United with two games in hand while Liverpool were eight adrift of the leaders and had played a game less.

As expected, the match went off to a lightning start with both teams scoring in the first ten minutes. Four minutes later, the Toons took the lead and the teams kept attacking for the rest of the half. Ten minutes into the second half, Liverpool equalized but their celebrations were cut short by a Newcastle goal in the 57th minute.

Knowing what was at stake, the Reds continued to drive forward vehemently and levelled the score again in the 68th minute. Substitutions followed as Newcastle tightened up their defence to settle for a good away point.

A desperate Liverpool side made one last attempt in the second minute of the injury time. John Barnes and Ian rush played a couple of one-twos before Barnes released the ball to Collymore in a space on the left flank. Collymore thumped it past the keeper as both Manchester United and Liverpool fans shared a rare moment of mutual ecstasy.

#1 Sergio Aguero vs Queens Park Rangers(13th May 2012)

Sergio Aguero lifting the Premier League title in 2012

Sergio Aguero's 94th-minute strike can without any arguments be settled as the all-time best Premier League last-minute goal. The drama and flow of emotions that followed the goal is perhaps incomparable.

The 2011-12 season was a tale of the two Manchester clubs, one trying to outnumber Liverpool's record of 19 League championships and the other trying to chase its first in 44 years. After 37 games, both the clubs had won, drawn, and lost the same number of matches. Provided the all the stats remained same even after the final game, the league was to be decided on the basis of goal difference.

On the final day of the season, Manchester United travelled to the stadium of light where the game ended 0-1 in favour of the away team. The red half of Manchester roared in excitement at the conclusion of the game as the Citizens were trailing 1-2 against QPR with 4 minutes of injury time to go.

A goal by Edin Dzeko in the 92nd minute set up a tasty end to the season and what followed was in simple terms unimaginable. No one can describe it better than the great Martin Tyler.

Edited by Rajdeep Puri