BETTER LATE...
END RESULT... SHARON GREEN CELEBRATES THE GLORY OF THE LAST-MINUTE WINNER
1989
PITCHING IN: It was the final few moments of the 1989 title decider between Arsenal and Liverpool when the Gunners’ Michael Thomas, above, got through on goal and scored, giving the Londoners the 2-0 win that was enough to secure the league championship. The match is part of the final chapter of the Nick Hornby book and film, Fever Pitch.
1989
TOUR DE FORCE: In the final stage of the Tour de France, American Greg LeMond was 50 seconds behind Laurent Fignon. But there’s a reason Fignon, left, is looking so downcast. LeMond managed to make up 58 seconds to win the race by eight seconds – the closest finish in the Tour’s history.
2024
CLOSE CALL: Marcus Smith scores England’s winning drop goal with the final kick of the game, beating Ireland 23-22 in the sides’ recent Six Nations rugby clash at Twickenham.
1998
JUMP FOR JOY: With 20 seconds left in the NBA final between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, the Bulls were down one. But all that was about to change courtesy of basketball legend Michael Jordan’s iconic game-winner. In the last five seconds, his 20-foot jump gave the Bulls an 87-86 victory. He is pictured, left, being congratulated by Scottie Pippin.
2000
EDGING IT: Great Britain’s rowers hold off Italy by a mere 0.38sec in the closing seconds of their race in Sydney, Australia, to secure Steve Redgrave’s fifth Olympic gold medal.
2012
DRAMATIC FINALE: Manchester City were trailing Queens Park Rangers 2-1 while rivals Manchester United had the Premier League trophy within their grasp as they led Sunderland. Then City grabbed two surprise injury-time goals with the winner being famously scored by Sergio Agüero, pictured, 90 seconds from the final whistle, clinching City’s first league title since the 1967–68 season.
2002
SUPER SHOCKER: One of the biggest upsets in American Football’s Super Bowl history came when underdogs the New wEngland Patriots beat favourites St Louis Rams 20-17 with the Patriots overcoming the Rams with a field goal in the final seven seconds.
2003
NEVER SAY DIE: Twenty seconds from the end of extra time in the Rugby World Cup final against Australia, England looked very close to “blowing it”, according to coach Sir Clive Woodwood. But one last surge up the pitch produced the moment dreams are made of as Jonny Wilkinson, above and left, broke Aussie hearts on home soil with the perfect drop goal, kicking England to glory.
2005
FINAL FLOURISH: England looked to have the Ashes Test at Edgbaston done and dusted until the Aussie tailenders produced a thrilling finale, edging them to the point of passing England’s total. Andrew Flintoff, pictured, saved England’s blushes by taking Ricky Pointing’s wicket, giving his team the win by just two runs – the closest Ashes Test margin ever.
1999
PLOT TWIST: They were putting the Bayern Munich ribbons on the Champions League trophy when Manchester United changed the story’s ending with two surprise last-minute goals – scored by Teddy Sheringham (90:36) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, pictured, (92:17).