25 Greatest Last-Second Goals in British Football History

Scoring a goal in the last minute can heavily affect a game's outcome, and that's what this video slide show is all about.

For your viewing pleasure are 25 last-minute strikes that have gone down in history as perhaps the most famous and important goals that British teams have ever been involved in.

Enjoy.

Steven Gerrard vs Olympiakos

To put it simply, Liverpool were facing elimination from the Champions League unless they could score three goals past Olympiakos in 2005.

Having been 2-1 ahead with just seconds left, everyone thought the dream was over until Steven Gerrard did this.

Andy Gray's commentary is now the stuff of legend.

1966 World Cup

England vs West Germany in the World Cup Final 1966 was the setting.

England were already 3-2 ahead and some of the crowd had ran on the pitch to celebrate before the final whistle, only the game wasn't over.

Geoff Hurst smashed home a last minute goal to make it 4-2 to England, and the famous commentary phrase "They think it's all over...it is now" was created.

Costinha vs Manchester United

Whilst this video doesn't show the footage of the goal, it does give a nice insightful feeling into the mindset of Jose Mourinho's emotions at the time.

His team—FC Porto—were 2-1 up against Manchester United from the first leg of the Champions League tie in 2004, but down 1-0  in the second leg.

Up stepped Costinha in the last minute of the game to equalize and send the Portuguese team through to the next round on aggregate.

Cue Mourinho sprinting across the field.

Steven Gerrard vs West Ham

Steven Gerrard was at it again in the 2006 FA Cup final where Liverpool found themselves 3-2 down against West Ham United.

Just as the announcer was telling the fans how much extra time there would be, Steven Gerrard smashed home a 25-yard striker to take the game into extra time.

Liverpool eventually won.

Nayim vs Arsenal

In the 1995 Cup Winner's Cup Final, Zaragoza found themselves tied 1-1 with Arsenal with just seconds left on the clock.

Up stepped Nayim who promptly shot from close to the half way line and scored.

To make matters worse for Arsenal fans, he used to play for Tottenham.

Teddy Sheringham vs Bayern Munich

The Champions League Final of 1999 saw Bayern Munich leading Manchester United for 85 minutes of the game.

The second goal on this video clip shows the moment Teddy Sheringham broke Bayern fans hearts as he steered home a late equalizer.

Extra time loomed.

Ole Gunnar Sokskjaer vs Bayern Munich

It didn't loom for long though.

Goal No. 3 on the video occurred just seconds after Teddy Sheringham;s strike, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stuck out his foot to make it 2-1 to Manchester United.

Two late strikes in a game of such importance is almost unthinkable.

David Beckham vs Greece

The scenario was this, England needed a point against Greece in the Euro 2001 encounter in order to ensure qualification without the need for a playoff.

The Greeks were 2-1 up when David Beckham did this in the third minute of stoppage time.

Michael Thomas vs Liverpool

Arsenal needed to win by two goals in order to snatch the Championship from Liverpool in 1989, and with seconds left they found themselves 1-0 to the good.

Cue Michael Thomas in the dying moments of the game.

Dennis Bergkamp vs Leicester City

This superb goal by Dennis Bergkamp put Arsenal 3-2 ahead against Leicester City in a Premier League game back in 1997.

Pure class.

Steve Walsh vs Arsenal

Leicester were having none of it though and forced a corner at the other end just seconds later.

Steve Walsh headed home the equalizer as the game finished 3-3.

The two late strikes were very dramatic.

David Platt vs Belgium

Italia 1990 and the World Cup second round was the stage for this striker.

England were playing Belgium and the game looked set for penalties before David Platt decided he didn't want that kind of drama.

Wayne Rooney vs Arsenal

It was 2002 and a 16-year-old lad from Everton was making his debut against Arsenal with just minutes left on the clock.

The score was 1-1 at the time, but Arsenal didn't realise just how good a player Wayne Rooney was.

Michael Owen vs Arsenal

The FA Cup final in 2001 was contested between Arsenal and Liverpool.

It is commonly referred to as the Michael Owen final after he did this whilst the scores were level.

Stan Collymore vs Newcastle

Liverpool and Newcastle had two epic games in the late 1990's and this was the first of them.

Stan Collymore lashed home in the dying seconds to give Liverpool a 4-3 victory in 1996.

Robbie Fowler vs Newcastle

If you thought lightning couldn't strike twice then you're wrong.

Robbie Fowler was Liverpool's hero when his late 1997 goal gave Liverpool another 4-3 victory over the Magpies the season after Stan Collymore's infamous finish.

Michael Owen vs Manchester City

With Manchester City equalizing in the 90th minute to make the score 3-3 against Manchester United in 2009, no one expected what came next.

Forgotten man Michael Owen was recently on as a substitute when he found himself in front of goal in the 96th minute.

The rest is derby history.

Scott McDonald vs Celtic

Celtic were two points ahead of Rangers going into the last game of the season in 2005.

With five minutes left on the clock, Celtic lapsed in concentration and Scott McDonald punished them to tie the game.

He wasn't finished there though, and McDonald promptly broke Celtic hearts in the 90th minute with the winner.

Elsewhere Rangers won their game to ensure the title went home with them.

McDonald later signed for Celtic.

Jimmy Glass vs Plymouth

If you think the previous videos were emotional, then just watch this tribute to Jimmy Glass.

The video tells the story.

Andres Iniesta vs Chelsea

There's a reason Andres Iniesta plays for one of the best club sides in the world—he's an amazing player.

Chelsea found this out in the 2009 Champions League.

Zinedine Zidane vs England.

Zinedine Zidane broke English hearts in another major tournament which was billed as a clash between two of the best midfielders in the world at the time—Zidane and Beckham.

One missed his penalty, the other didn't.

Allan Neilson vs Leicester City

If you're going to score a last-minute goal, do it in the Worthington Cup final.

That's what Allan Nielsen did in 1999.

Steve Bruce vs Sheffield Wednesday

This footage is perhaps more noteworthy for the terrible celebrations of Bryan Kidd rather than the goals of Steve Bruce.

You decide.

Nwankwo Kanu vs Chelsea

Chelsea were two goals to the good against Arsenal in 1999 until Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu decided to score a hat-trick.

This strike—his third—was in the last minute of the game.

Matt Le Tissier vs Arsenal

Who better than Matt Le Tissier to say farewell to Southampton's old ground.

Le Tiss struck in the dying minutes to secure a 3-2 win over Arsenal.

It was the last competitive goal ever scored at the stadium.

Afterthoughts

There were plenty of late goals that didn't make this slideshow so my apologies if you feel your team has been hard done by.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out 50 Greatest Goal Scorers in World Football History.

On Twitter? Follow me @petercwebster where I post all my B/R content.