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Our daily countdown continues, with Belgium overcoming Igor Belanov's World Cup heroics.

61. World Cup 1986 - Belgium 4-3 USSR aet

As countries go, Belgium and the USSR might not be the first two you would associate with beauty, entertainment and excitement, but they served up an absolute thriller in their second round tie in Mexico. Legendary coach led a Soviet side containing legends Rinat Dassaiev, Vasili Rats and Igor Belanov, who opened the scoring on 27 minutes, firing in off the post. Belgium were no mugs, and Enzo Scifo levelled before Belanov squeezed in a second, then Jan Ceulemans beat the Soviet offside trap to fire a second equaliser. Extra time belonged to the Belgians, as goals from Stephane Demol and Nico Claesen made it 4-2. Belanov completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot but Belgium held on and went to the semi-finals, where they were undone by the brilliant Diego Maradona.

62. Premier League 2009/10 - Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City

Talk about an instant classic. This game is less than a week old but clearly it belongs among the greatest ever played. Sir Alex Ferguson said it was the best Manchester derby ever, and who are we to disagree? Wayne Rooney gave United an early lead before Old Trafford old-boy Carlos Tevez robbed Ben Foster to set up Gareth Barry's equaliser. Darren Fletcher twice put United back in front, and twice Craig Bellamy pulled City level - his stoppage-time strike after a Rio Ferdinand error appeared to have provided a stunning climax. But six infamous minutes of stoppage time were played - enough for Michael Owen to win the affections of United fans by snaffling a dramatic winner with almost the final kick of the game. Gary Neville gloated, Bellamy clashed with a fan, and Mark Hughes fumed. Expect more fireworks when United visit Eastlands in April.

63. FA Cup semi-final 1996/97 - Middlesbrough 3-3 Chesterfield

A bona fide classic, but one tinged with regret for most neutrals who would have loved third-tier Chesterfield to meet Chelsea in the FA Cup final. A goalless first half swung the Spireites' way when Vladimir Kinder was sent off, and Andy Morris opened the scoring after 54 minutes before a Sean Dyche penalty put the underdogs two up. Fabrizio Ravanelli quickly reduced the arrears before the game's key moment. Jonathan Howard fired a shot against the underside of the bar, it bounced over the line before spinning back into play. It should have been 3-1, but referee David Elleray said no goal. Elleray then awarded Boro a penalty, from which Craig Hignett equalised - all four (five) goals coming in 16 breathless minutes. Gianluca Festa appeared to have won it for Boro with his extra-time strike, but Jamie Hewitt levelled dramatically with 65 seconds remaining at Old Trafford. Boro won the replay 3-0, but lost the final - also losing the League Cup final and getting relegated.

64. Premier League 2008/09 - Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal

This was the game in which Andrei Arshavin announced himself as the most exhilarating player in the Premier League. Arsenal were completely outplayed, yet four goals from the Russian earned them a share of the spoils. He fired in off the bar with practically his first touch, before a seven-goal second half began with Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun giving Liverpool the lead. Arshavin lashed a spectacular drive past Pepe Reina's outstretched hand into the far corner to restore parity on 67 minutes, and three minutes later completed his hat-trick, only for Torres to instantly score again to make it 3-3. Arsenal's defence was so bad that when Arshavin drilled a scarcely believable fourth in the 90th minute to give the visitors a 4-3 lead, you felt they might just hold on for a point. And so it was; Yossi Benayoun netted a stoppage time equaliser but Liverpool could not force home a winner. The point sent Rafa Benitez's side briefly top, but this was arguably the game that ended their championship challenge.

65. Serie A 2005 - Internazionale 3-2 Sampdoria

A late, great comeback from two goals down saw Internazionale score three times in six minutes to warm the hearts of those left in the Giuseppe Meazza on a cold January day in Milan. After Max Tonetto had opened the scoring for Samp, the hosts pressed hard for an equaliser but were frustrated by an inspired performance in between the sticks by Francesco Antoniolli. And when Vitali Kutuzov pounced in the 83rd minute, the game seemed over - certainly some Inter fans thought so and began to pack up their flags and leave. Those tifosi were to regret their lack of faith though as Obafemi Martins got the comeback underway on 88 minutes with a lovely finish via the outside of his boot. Inter then had a huge handball shout turned down before Christian Vieri popped up in the second minute of time added on to send those left in the stadium wild and salvage a point for Roberto Mancini's side. But they were not finished there and Alvaro Recoba fired home from outside the box on 94 minutes to snatch all three points in the most unlikely of circumstances.

66. FA Cup third round replay 1971 - Hereford 2-1 Newcastle

This was giant killing at its very best and a timeless reminder of why the FA Cup is so special. Having forced a 2-2 draw at St James' Park, non-league Hereford got the chance to host First Division Newcastle at Edgar Street, but only at the fourth time of asking after the first three attempts at playing were postponed. As it was, the pitch was still a waterlogged bog when Newcastle's international-laden side came to town. The difficult conditions made for a scrappy affair that remained goalless until Malcolm Macdonald (pictured) headed the visitors ahead with just eight minutes remaining. But all was not lost for Hereford, and part-time carpenter Ronnie Radford blasted them level from 30 yards three minutes later with one of the most famous goals of all time, sparking a pitch invasion and sending the tie into extra-time. That screamer is the goal that sticks in the mind, but it as Ricky George's winner in the 103rd minute that prompted another pitch invasion, sent Hereford through to the next round and sealed their place in Cup folklore.

67. FA Cup final 1988 - Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool

Rank outsiders Wimbledon were barely given a prayer against the mighty, all-conquering Liverpool when they faced off on a sunny Wembley afternoon on May 14. Playing in non-league 11 years previously, the 'Crazy Gang' were now established as a top-flight side but Liverpool, winners of multiple league and European titles, were expected to walk it. The Dons rode their luck, with keeper Dave Beasant the outstanding performer. He made a wonderful double save from John Aldridge and John Barnes, while Peter Beardsley had a 35th-minute goal disallowed when the referee failed to play the advantage after he was fouled in the build-up. Two minutes later and the South London side were ahead after Lawrie Sanchez nodded a Denis Wise free-kick past Bruce Grobbelaar. Liverpool pressed and pressed, with Beasant becoming the first man to save an FA Cup final penalty at Wembley when he turned Aldridge's spot-kick around the post. But the Dons held on and skipper Beasant sealed another historic moment as the first keeper to lift the Cup.

68. World Cup 1998 group stage - Spain 2-3 Nigeria

Having already won gold at the Olympics two years previously, Nigeria proved their credentials as an African powerhouse in their opener at the 1998 World Cup in France. Highly-fancied Spain headed into the match in Nantes as favourites to progress from Group D but they were given a rude awakening by the Super Eagles, led by Jay Jay Okocha. Fernando Hierro got Spain off to a great start with a free-kick on 21 minutes but Nigeria were back on level terms just four minutes later thanks to Mutiu Adepoju's header. A young Raul restored Spain's lead soon after the break, prompting a round of 'oles' from the confident Spanish contingent in the crowd. But those cries proved premature as Andoni Zubizarreta inexplicably palmed Rasheed Yekini's cross into his own net on 73 minutes before Sunday Oliseh grabbed the winner 12 minutes from time with a 25-yard half-volley. The result was damaging for Spain, who failed to qualify for the knockout stages, while Nigeria finished top of the group only to be dumped out of the tournament in their next game by Denmark.

69. 1938 World Cup first round - Brazil 6-5 Poland

Eleven goals in 120 thrilling minutes in a rain-sodden Strasbourg mark out Brazil's clash with Poland as one of the most entertaining of all World Cup clashes. With the emphasis very much on attack from the off, Brazil striker Leonidas got the scoring underway on 18 minutes and his side took a 3-1 lead in with them at half-time. A downpour during the break played into the Poles' hands and they began a stirring comeback after the restart and found themselves level at 3-3 by the hour mark. Peracio restored the South Americans' lead in the 71st minute, only for Ernest Wilimowski to force extra-time with his third of the day late on. But Leonidas grabbed another two goals (93, 104) to effectively settle the tie and not even a fourth for Wilimowski as time ran out could alter the outcome of a truly sensational match.

70. 1984 UEFA Cup second round - Partizan Belgrade 4-0 Queen's Park Rangers

Goals by John Gregory, Wayne Fereday, Simon Stainrod, Warren Neill and two from Gary Bannister secured a 6-2 win for QPR in the first leg, played at Highbury because of the European ban on Loftus Road's plastic pitch. And with such a seemingly unassailable lead, confidence was high heading into the away leg in the old Yugoslavia a fortnight later. But it was to end in tears for Rangers, as Partizan netted four goals within the opening 64 minutes to cancel out the English side's lead. Alan Mullery's side failed to find a response and were bounced out of Europe on the away goals rule. Boss Mullery never recovered from such a damaging defeat and departed from the club a few weeks later - after just six months in the job.

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