There have been a number of special moments throughout Premier League history, but the best are those last minute winners that drive fans wild. From Aguero to Van Persie, Rooney to Collymore, there are few things better for a supporter of a team than when all seems lost, and your side turn it around in added time.
Here at NetBet, we decided to pay tribute to some of the great moments in Premier League history. If you’re feeling lucky, you can bet on what the next moment to make this list is going to be if you head over to our sports betting pages and pick a match in which you can see a late winner happening.
Sergio Aguero – Man City 3-2 QPR (2011/12)
Even if you’re not a Manchester City fan, there is absolutely no way you can deny this being one of the greatest football moments of all time. On the 13th of May 2012, with the Premier League title hanging in the balance, Manchester City hosted Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad stadium. With it being the final day of the Premier League season, all ten matches around the country were taking place simultaneously, but all eyes were on two; City v QPR, and city rivals Manchester United’s trip to Sunderland. The teams records were an identical 37 played, 27 won, 5 drawn and 5 lost, so there was absolutely no room for error on either side. With Manchester City 2-1 down and added time beginning, Edin Dzeko equalised right as over in the Stadium of Light, United had just sealed victory. After so long in the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson’s European giants, Roberto Mancini’s troops had three minutes to make history and finally beat their noisy neighbors. And with just seconds remaining on the clock, Mario Baoltelli sneaked the ball into Sergio Aguero, and Manchester City did just that. A moment made all the more iconic due to the famous ‘Aguerooooooo’ commentary, this is undoubtedly the benchmark for last minute winners in the Premier League.
Stan Collymore – Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle (1995/96)
For fans of the older generation, there’s few games that compare to the legendary 95/96 clash between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield. The match is considered to be among the best Premier League games in the history of the competition, with the Premier League even awarding it ‘match of the decade’ in 2003, and prompting historians to set up a wikipedia page honouring the fixture. After racking up a seemingly insurmountable 10-point lead before Christmas in the Premier League title race, Newcastle United capitulated to allow Manchester United to take the reigns in the Premier League title race, with this game being a huge catalyst in Sir Alex Ferguson’s men taking the edge. The Toon’s manager at the time Kevin Keegan described it as a “classic”, while Liverpool manager Roy Evans said “the entertainment value was up there with the best”. In front of a packed crowd at Anfield, Robbie Fowler opened the scoring within the first two minutes, before Les Ferdinand and David Ginola struck within twelve minutes to give the visitors the lead. Fowler equalised in the 55th, before Faustino Asprilla and Stan Collymore traded strikes to tie the game at 3-3. Keegan’s heart was broken two minutes into stoppage time when John Barnes got the ball into the box for Collymore to slide home.
Wayne Rooney – Everton 2-1 Arsenal (2002/03)
They didn’t know it at the time, but a Premier League legend was being introduced at Goodison Park when 16-year-old Wayne Rooney made history by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. Showing remarkable skill and poise to control a high pass at such a pivotal point in the game, turn and blast a shot over one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League had at the time in David Seaman, Rooney was immediately a superstar. Arsenal’s invincibles were just a few months away from taking over English football with a stunning domestic run, so in an historical context this goal takes on an even bigger significance. After just ten minutes on the pitch, Wayne Rooney had started a career that would ultimately earn him the title of England’s greatest player before eventually retiring this year.
Michael Owen – Man United 4-3 Man City (2009/10)
Liverpool legend Michael Owen was a bit of a surprise signing by Manchester United in 2009. Many felt that after unremarkable spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle United, he had left his best behind him. Unfortunately for local rivals Manchester City, that turned out not to be the case. Two minutes after four added ones were played, the score still sat at 3-3 after a game that goalkeeper Shay Given later admitted ‘had it all’. Up popped Michael Owen to break Manchester City hearts. It’s been described as the most dramatic goal Owen scored since his 1998 winner against Argentina for England. When he announced his retirement, the goal was ranked as the fourth-greatest of his career by The Independent, and it has been ranked among the best derby moments of all time. Owen has described it himself as an “iconic goal in such an important game”, and said that “it was a moment I’d always be remembered for”. It beat out the aforementioned Liverpool and Newcastle game to be voted as the greatest match in the Premier League’s first twenty years.