Top 100: Greatest matches 81-90

Eurosport - Tue, 08 Sep 09:42:00 2009

Check out the best matches ever played in our daily countdown: today we tell the story of journeyman goalkeeper Jimmy Glass.

FOOTBALL Jimmy Glass celebrates scoring a late winner for Carlisle against Plymouth to keep club in football league in 1999 - 0

81. 1999 Football League Division Three - Carlisle 2-1 Plymouth

In one of the most famous acts of goalkeeping heroism in English football history, jobbing shot-stopper Jimmy Glass saved Carlisle from relegation to the Conference with a late, late goal that kept them in the football league. Then aged 25, the Swindon keeper was brought in on loan after Tony Caig was sold to Blackpool. Carlisle were in the worst trouble for a team who had spent 71 years in the Football League: they were heading out altogether, drawing 1-1 at home to Argyle four minutes into injury-time with Scarborough, as it stood, staying up. The rest of the game was irrelevant, a low-grade slog in which Argyle initially took the lead before Carlisle levelled. With time running out, Glass - in only his third game for the team - launched the ball long to win a corner. The 6'4" self-confessed "frustrated forward" ran upfield, sensing his luck was in having scored a hat-trick in training the previous day. With the last kick of the game the Plymouth keeper parried a goal-bound header and Glass smashed in a right-foot volley that provoked delirium and an immediate pitch invasion. It would be one of his final acts in the professional game - Carlisle were unable to sign him permanently and he drifted into non-league before becoming a computer salesman, a gambling addict and latterly the co-owner of a taxi firm. Carlisle fans never forgot him though - they still sing "there's only one Jimmy Glass".

82. Euro 96 - England 4-1 Netherlands

In their final group game, hosts England won by some margin after a disappointing draw with Switzerland and a hard-fought win over Scotland. A standard Alan Shearer penalty midway through an indifferent first half was won when a Cruyff-esque drag-back from Paul Ince drew the foul from Danny Blind. Five minutes into the second half, Teddy Sheringham angled a header into the bottom right from a Paul Gascoigne corner. The third goal typified Terry Venables's England in contrast to predecessor Graham Taylor. Just after the hour Gascoigne, running from halfway, used Darren Anderton and Steve McManaman as give-and-go partners before showing his strength to bustle into the box to slip the ball to Sheringham, who showcased his famous intelligence by - as everyone expected him to shoot - noncholantly touching the ball for the onrushing Shearer to blast into the net. The Dutch came forward gamely but the rout was complete when, after a Shearer knockdown, Anderton's deflected shot came back off Edwin van der Sar and Sheringham finished from close range. Guus Hiddink's side still celebrated sub Patrick Kluivert"s consolation, as did many England fans - it meant the Dutch progressed at the expense of the Scots. Natural order was restored as England lost the semi-final on penalties to eventual winners Germany.

83. 2006 World Cup - Germany 0-2 Italy (aet)

Dortmund's Westfalenstadion is famous for its intense atmosphere, but it can rarely have been louder than during the Germany-Italy semi-final in 2006, which for 118 minutes was the greatest goalless draw ever played. Hosts Germany had come into the tournament in apparent chaos but quickly found form and romped to the last four amid patriotic fervour. They and Italy served up an enthralling encounter, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite high-quality attacking play and great chances falling to Simone Perrotta, Fabio Grosso, Alberto Gilardino, Bernd Schneider and Lukas Podolski. With penalties just 90 seconds away, Andrea Pirlo found Grosso on the right side of the box, and the left-back curled the ball past Jens Lehmann for a dramatic winner. There was time for Alessandro Del Piero to add a quick second for Italy, who went on to beat France on penalties to lift the World Cup for the fourth time.

84. 1994 Premier League - Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United

One of the game's great rivalries has produced many thrilling clashes over the years, but in recent times few can compare to Liverpool's stirring comeback against their arch rivals at Anfield in January 1994. At the time, Alex Ferguson's side - arguably the greatest United teams of all time - were at the height of their powers and they proved as much by racing into a three-goal lead after just 24 minutes. Captain Steve Bruce - who had lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time the previous season - got the champions underway with a header from Eric Cantona's precision ball in. A youthful Ryan Giggs beautifully chipped Bruce Grobbelaar to make it two before Denis Irwin hammered in a trademark free-kick for a third. Game over? Not a chance. Nigel Clough, who never quite managed to match his feats on this night during his spell with Liverpool, started the hosts' revival just a minute later with a long-range daisy-cutter that flew past Peter Schmeichel and into the bottom corner. Clough then notched a second before the first half was out, this time from closer range, to draw Liverpool closer to claiming an improbable point. As the noise level inside Anfield was cranked up, United's resistance was finally broken with 11 minutes remaining, Neil Ruddock thumping home a header from Stig Inge Bjornebye's cross (pictured) to complete an incredible comeback and give Liverpool, who were otherwise starved of success during the 1990s, something to shout about.

85. Euro 2004 - Netherlands 2-3 Czech Republic

Never has a major international tournament looked more like a playground kickabout. This was a glorious exhibition of all-out attack in which the Czechs registered 22 shots to the Netherlands' 14. Holland raced into a 2-0 lead through Wilfred Bouma and a wildly offside Ruud van Nistelrooy, but where many teams would have folded the Czechs went beserk. Having started with one midfielder - Marek Jankulovski - masquerading as a full-back, coach Karel Bruckner brought on Vladimir Smicer for Zdenek Grygera after 25 minutes and reverted to a 2-4-4 formation. Jan Koller pulled one back and the Czechs poured forward, leaving vast spaces open at the back. Edgar Davids hit the post and Johnny Heitinga forced a fine save by Petr Cech, but ruffled Dutch coach Dick Advocaat brought on Paul Bosvelt for Arjen Robben in a disastrous move. Milan Baros equalised brilliantly soon after and Heitinga was sent off. Pavel Nedved nearly snapped the bar with a long-range left-footer before Smicer snaffled the winner from close range.

86. 1958 World Cup final - Sweden 2-5 Brazil

The 1958 World Cup was the best to date, receiving international television coverage and introducing the planet to the skills of Pele. The 17-year-old came into the side for the last group game and scored the only goal in the quarter-final win over Wales (yes, Wales). A hat-trick followed in the semis against France before a brace in the final against the hosts. Sweden stunned their favoured opponents when Nils Liedholm scored after just four minutes but the wing wizardry of Garrincha set up Vava for two goals before the break... then Pele took the game by the scruff of the neck. After 55 minutes, he produced one of the World Cup's most famous goals, chesting the ball down before flicking it over his marker and volleying into the corner. Mario Zagallo added a fourth and although Agne Simonsson gave the hosts a glimmer of hope 10 minutes from time, it was Pele who sealed Brazil's first World Cup triumph with a final-minute header. The Brazilians celebrated the feat with a lap of honour carrying a huge Swedish flag.

87. 2007 La Liga - Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid

Everyone knew who Lionel Messi was long before Barcelona 'welcomed' arch rivals Real Madrid to the Camp Nou in 2007 - but the little magician's performance on that night signalled the emergence of a true superstar. It looked for long stretches as though eventual Liga champions Real would take the glory, but at every stage they came up against the true heir to Diego Maradona's number 10 Argentina shirt. First he equalised Ruud van Nistelrooy's opener with a crisp finish coming in from the right, only to see the Dutchman put Fabio Capello's side back in front from the penalty spot after Guti drew a foul from Oleguer Presas, who was booked. Only 13 minutes had been played: the Barca crowd and watching millions knew they were in for a belter. On the half-hour mark Ronaldinho wriggled through three defenders and forced Iker Casillas into a save; Messi smashed the rebound into the roof of the net. On the stroke of half-time Catalan nationalist Oleguer saw red after picking up a second yellow card and after the break it was all Madrid: Guti's bending free-kick was brilliantly flicked backwards by the head of Sergio Ramos and in off the crossbar to put them ahead for a third time. But as the clock ticked into injury time and Barca looked unable to create anything, Messi received the ball from Ronaldinho, skinned a defender and fired low into the far corner, sending the Camp Nou into a frenzy.

88. 1991 FA Cup Fifth Round replay - Everton 4-4 Liverpool

Possibly the greatest Merseyside derby in history. Three days earlier the sides drew 0-0 at Anfield but the replay at Goodison Park was fireworks all the way. Peter Beardsley put the visitors ahead after 32 minutes but, less than a minute into the second-half, Graeme Sharp levelled. Beardsley popped up again on 71 minutes, dancing past Martin Keown before smashing the ball past Neville Southall, only for two minutes later Sharp to level once more after Steve Nicol and Bruce Grobbelaar failed to find a common Scottish-Zimbo word for 'MINE'. Ian Rush (pictured) put Liverpool 3-2 ahead with 13 minutes to go but Toffees substitute Tony Cottee took the game into extra-time with a last-minute leveller. Liverpool went ahead yet again as John Barnes curled in a 30-yard belter but, with only five minutes remaining, Cottee was quickest to react to a wayward back pass and nutmegged Grobbelaar to force another replay. The drama proved to be too much for Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish who resigned two days afterwards and Everton won the second replay thanks to a Dave Watson goal.

89. 1986 European Cup Winners Cup - Bayer Uerdingen 7-3 Dynamo Dresden (7-5 agg)

Not many people miss the Cup Winners Cup but this tie was an absolute humdinger between teams from the old West and East Germany. Uerdingen, who had stunned Bayern Munich in the German Cup final, lost the away leg 2-0 to their rivals from across the Berlin Wall. In the return game at Krefeld, Dresden - with a teenage Mathias Sammer in midfield - led 3-1 at half-time and 5-1 on aggregate with 32 minutes remaining. Bernd Jakubowski had gone off injured at half-time and Dresden reserve keeper Jens Ramme was about to receive the shock of his life as the unthinkable happened. Wolfgang Funkel converted a dodgy penalty, Larus Gudmundsson levelled on the night before the unfortunately named Ralf Minge deflected into his own net. Three goals in nine minutes! 12 minutes from time Dietmar Klinger netted but Bayer were still behind on the away goals rule only for Funkel to cap one of football's most sensational comebacks by scoring a sixth from the penalty spot after 81 minutes. Wolfgang Schäfer scored a late seventh and ended up on the shoulders of the home fans who invaded the pitch. A footnote to one of the most memorable matches in German history is that Dresden forward Frank Lippman defected to the West after the game to play for Nurenberg. UNGLAUBLICH!

90. 2005 Champions League - Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona (5-4 agg)

Chelsea's transition into one of the top clubs in Europe was almost complete when they were drawn against Spanish powerhouse Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2005 - and this famous victory suggested Roman Abramovich might just realise his European ambitions with Jose Mourinho in charge. Having lost the opening leg 2-1 in the Camp Nou, the former Barca coach saw his men race into a 3-0 lead inside 19 minutes with Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and a rampaging Damien Duff providing the finishing touches. Paulo Ferreira handled in the box and Ronaldinho stuck away the spot-kick to reduce the arrears and it was game on: the wizard-like Brazilian then gave the Catalans the advantage on away goals, dancing around the stationary ball on the edge of the box before firing into the bottom corner with the outside of his foot (pictured) past a bemused Petr Cech. Joe Cole hit the woodwork for Chelsea and it was not even half-time; in the second period the chances continued to come thick and fast for both teams, a youthful Andres Iniesta also seeing a shot tipped on to the post. The winning goal came courtesy of the head of John Terry - and an 'interesting' intervention by defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho on visiting keeper Victor Valdes. At the final whistle Mourinho careered around the pitch, while there were altercations between the players, the Barca fans and Abramovich, and Samuel Eto'o and a steward; and a heated rivalry was born.

Eurosport

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  1. are you interested in african football? visit­ africaplays.come
    are you interested in african­ football? visit africaplays.come

    From flamingoes1, on Fri 27 Nov 3:34PM
  2. Don't know where, but mention should be made of­ England v West Germany, 1954. West Germany were World­ Champions ... but ran into a storm. The rebel Clown­ Prince of Soccer chose that day to remind the world­ 'God help you if I don't clown!' The great­ Tom Finney once laughed 'Len beat them on his own­ that day' - and no one, at ANY level, ever dared­ ask 'Who's Len Shackleton' again.

    From Trish Scott, on Sun 18 Oct 9:10PM
  3. its all @#$%

    From neal, on Wed 7 Oct 6:40PM
  4. I was at the carlisle match. and it wasnt a "low-­ grade slog" and it fully deserves to be in the­ list. I take it creavens was at this match? Or seen it­ on the tv? What? No? oh! Get stuffed then

    From Smack My Fish Up, on Thu 24 Sep 7:55PM
  5. 2-2 4-1pso chelsea man u 09 community shield

    From phillmad, on Tue 22 Sep 2:08PM
  6. best game will be liverpool 4-4 chelsea

    From joseph_sharrak, on Sat 12 Sep 8:36AM
  7. gayjohn89 get a life

    From aengusdeburca, on Mon 7 Sep 7:00AM
  8. top 3 games 1970 world cup final and european cup final­ real v eintracht frankfurt. top though should be killie­ 5 eintracht frankurt 1 with killie at one stage being­ down 4-0 on aggregate.

    From Wm, on Sun 6 Sep 8:45PM
  9. top 3 games 1970 world cup final and european cup final­ real v eintracht frankfurt. top though should be killie­ 5 eintracht frankurt 1 with killie at one stage being­ down 4-0 on aggregate.

    From Wm, on Sun 6 Sep 8:36PM
  10. top game should be england 2 scotland 3 1967

    From Billy E, on Sun 6 Sep 6:42PM
  11. The rest of the game was irrelevant, a low-grade slog­ in which Argyle initially took the lead before Carlisle­ levelled

    It should have no place in this list­ then.

    And the 2006 world cup semi-final is a top 50­ game at the very least, putting it in at 83, behind­ this Carlisle v Plymouth game just shows how­ f'ucked up this list is

    From Creaven91, on Sun 6 Sep 1:19PM
  12. hey wheres 81

    From Csaba, on Sat 5 Sep 11:04AM
  13. FOEYP IS RIGHT, BUT THE TOP GAME INVOLVING LIVERPOOL­ SHOULD BE WHEN THEY WERE BEATEN BY PALACE IN THE FA CUP­ FINAL - AND BEFORE YOU MENTION IT THE 9 - 0 DRUBBING WE­ SUFFERED IN THE LEAGUE GAME JUST PRIOR TO THIS , MADE­ THIS AN EVEN MORE MOMENTOUS GAME !!!

    From PETER, on Fri 4 Sep 1:25PM
  14. what about GERMANY 1 ENGLAND 5

    From Steve, on Fri 4 Sep 12:58PM
  15. I don't get how 82 ranks so high. There are some­ truly great games already listed on here, which surely­ were more exciting and significant than this game.

    From ArunK, on Fri 4 Sep 12:26PM
  16. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    WATCH ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP, WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFICATION, ­ CONFEDERATIONS CUP, FRIENDLY MATCHES AND MUCH MORE
    ­
    ALL THE HIGH¬_LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Fri 4 Sep 11:03AM
  17. I garauntee Liverpool will be involved in three of the­ top ten Matches number one being the chmps league­ final, the Newcastle game and the 5-4 in the uefa cup­ final over Alaves, of which I went to all of those­ games!

    From FoeyP, on Fri 4 Sep 11:02AM
  18. If this is number 82 there should be some Amazing games­ coming up! No seriouslt I think you've fuc3ed up­ here - this is a top ten game for sure - this is UK­ Eurosport right??

    From Samaldo, on Fri 4 Sep 10:50AM
  19. durka durka

    From seumasfraser, on Thu 3 Sep 4:52PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    BEST GAME LIVERPOOL 2 V 1 MAN UTD ;;; MAN UTD 1 V 4­ LIVERPOOL

    THE TOP GAME WILL BE CHELSEA 0 V 1­ LIVERPOOL LAST SEASON YNWA YNWA YNWA

    From fayjohn89, on Thu 3 Sep 2:42PM
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