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Last-gasp sporting triumphs
May16201211:54 a.m.
The climax to the Premier League season was unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed before – with virtually the last kick of the season the title was secured for Manchester City.
Of course those of us old enough to remember back to 1989 (or who have seen or read Nick Hornby’s novel ‘Fever Pitch’) will know that Arsenal did similar when Michael “It’s up for grabs” Thomas’ injury time goal at Anfield secured the old League One title (on 'goals scored' not 'goal difference' as the two sides were level) at the expense of Liverpool. But sport has this ability to throw up these late late surprises as victory is grasped from the jaws of defeat.
Who’ll ever forget Lewis Hamilton winning the F1 title in 2008 after a nail-biting Brazilian Grand Prix in which he swept past Timo Glock on the final bend of the final lap to clinch the fifth place needed to clinch the championship.
Thinking of late late wins in football, then for Manchester United there must have been a certain familiarity about Sunday events at the Etihad Stadium, after all United had done much them same thing in their Champions League triumph in 1999.
After trailing for much of the final against Bayern Munich to a 6th minute opener, it was two last-minute goals in injury time, from Sheringham (timed at 90:36) and Solskjaer (92:17) that gave United their second European Cup victory.
Onto cricket and no Test match was more gripping than the second Test at Edgbaston with England triumphing against the against the Aussies by just 2 runs. After seemingly being on their way to a victory thanks to two late partnerships, Australia had needed just 3 runs to put them 2-0 up in the series.
But Steve Harmison delivered a short ball, which Michael Kasprowicz fended and was caught down the leg side by Geraint Jones and the series was tied at 1-1 with three matches left. The moment was best remembered for Andrew Flintoff consoling batsman Brett Lee who had come so close to taking his side to victory.
Another truly memorable moment came in the 800m final (captured in this marvelously shaky video) in Athens when Kelly Holmes timed her run to perfection to take the gold. There’s a moment in the final straight where it Mutola kicks and opens a small gap and you think she’s gone, but then Kelly, Benhassi and Ceplak come storming past for a remarkable finish and one the best you’ll ever see. Mutola ended up missing out on a medal completely.
There will of course be many moment of photo-finishes, matches clawed back from the brink or even Devon Loch moments when defeat has been grasped from the jaws of victory, but which one sporting moment really took your breath away and was remarkable in the extreme? Let me know your own personal favourite.
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