The Most Intense Sports Moments of the Past 10 Years

During every single sporting event, there seems to be that one moment that's just a little bit more intense than the rest of the game. When players, coaches, officials and fans know that the pressure is on and hearts beat a little faster.

But the most intensely awesome sports moments of the past 10 years happened to come during some of the biggest games us sports fans have ever witnessed, which is why these are the instances that we'll never forget—because we all sweat them out to see how they would unfold.

Michael Phelps' Gold Medal Record Extended by Jason Lezak (2008)

During the 2008 Summer Olympics, swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated athlete in the history of the Games, winning a gold medal in all eight events he participated in and becoming an instant legend in the process.

Had it not been for a teammate of his, though, Phelps' run would have never been.

Jason Lezak, who was the anchor on the 4x100-meter relay that year, pulled off an incredible, come-from-behind victory to beat French counterpart Alain Bernard by just eight one-hundredths of a second in Phelps' second event of the Olympics.

Phelps is the Olympic hero, but the intense finish for Lezak to touch the wall before Bernard played a major role in that.

Mario Chalmers Buries Game-Tying Trey in National Title Game (2008)

Current Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers has two NBA titles in four Finals trips, but before he was a part of that Big Three squad led by future Hall of Famers, Chalmers was making a name for himself on the biggest stage in college hoops.

Playing for the Kansas Jayhawks and battling future No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose of the Memphis Tigers, Chalmers hit one of the most clutch shots in NCAA tourney history.

With Memphis leading 62-60 with 10.8 seconds left, D-Rose made just one of two free throws, leaving the score a one possession game—which was exactly what Chalmers and the Jayhawks needed.

Draining the tying trey with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime, everyone watching knew it was do-or-die in that moment, with Chalmers drilling a dagger that, eventually, led KU to the national title with a 75-68 victory that night.

Toronto Blue Jays-Texas Rangers Review in Game 5 of ALDS (2015)

While some of the other examples on this list might have been more intense because of the severity of the moment, there's no arguing that the replay review during Game 5 of this year's NLDS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers is up there.

After all, it was the playoffs in an elimination game—and the entire seventh inning had it all.

From the Rangers scoring on one of the most bizarre ways imaginable in the top of the seventh, to Texas losing itself with errors in the bottom half of the inning and giving up a homer to Jose Bautista—with benches clearing through this whole fiasco—the game will always be remembered for its wildness.

The replay review on the Rangers' run was one that couldn't have been more tense for everyone in attendance, though, with the outcome leading to Jays fans tossing things onto the field in anger and a mini riot breaking out because of it.

I get chills thinking about it.

Vince Young Runs Texas to National Title and Upset Southern Cal (2006)

Over the years, there have been some clutch championship performances by individual athletes, but Vince Young leading his Texas Longhorns over the USC Trojans in the 2006 national title game is toward the top.

The backstory was thrilling enough, as SC was riding a 34-game win streak, had won the previous two national championships and had the Heisman Trophy winner—since vacated—Reggie Bush, who beat out Young for the award.

In a back-and-forth contest, Young's defining moment came with 26 seconds left in the game and his Horns trailing 38-33 from SC's 8-yard-line—on 4th-and-5!

Weaving around defenders, VY ran into the front corner of the end zone for the game-winner, adding a two-point conversion to put the final score at 41-38.

It ripped the hearts out of Trojan players and coaches, with fans knowing that that fourth-down play was going to decide the outcome of the entire game.

Sergio Aguero Ends Manchester City's EPL Title Drought in Extra Time (2012)

With Manchester City looking for its first English Premier League title in 44 years with a chance to win it against the league's worst road team, Queens Park Rangers, early indications were that that other team in Manchester would wrap up the title.

But when QPR held a late lead and Manchester United was winning their match—which would have won the league title for the Red Devils—City fans were sweating bullets.

It wasn't until Sergio Aguero came through in stoppage time that everyone in baby blue could celebrate, scoring one of the most thrilling goals in EPL history and giving soccer fans a moment they'll always remember.

Canadian Women's Hockey Team Shocks Team USA for Olympic Gold (2014)

The 2014 U.S. women's hockey team was a mere inches from winning a gold medal at that year's Winter Olympics, but fate just wasn't on its side that day.

Instead, the missed opportunity was the Canadian women's gain.

After a U.S. player hit the post to give Canada a chance to tie the game late in the third period, that's exactly what they did, tying the score with just 55 seconds left in a mad dash for an equalizer.

Set for overtime, Canada stunned the U.S. by keeping that momentum going, scoring about eight minutes into the extra frame and crushing Team USA in a loss that was disheartening and intense as any fans have seen.

Kawhi Leonard's Missed Free Throw Leads to Ray Allen's Game 6 Trey (2013)

Stepping to the free-throw stripe with his San Antonio Spurs leading 94-92 with just 19.4 seconds left in a closeout game against the Miami Heat, Kawhi Leonard had a chance to win an NBA title for his squad.

Instead, he choked after looking as if he was terrified to even be in the moment.

As fans watched to see if Leonard could come up in the clutch, his miss led to one of the most improbable shots ever, as the Heat's Ray Allen buried a game-tying three to send the game to overtime—where Miami held on to force a Game 7.

The Spurs lost that deciding seventh game, with Leonard's miss proving to be the critical turning point.

Tiger Woods Sinks a 12-Footer to Force a Playoff in the U.S. Open (2008)

Many of us remember Tiger Woods as being the most dominant golfer of his generation, winning 14 major titles and absolutely burying his competition.

Its been a long time since that Tiger has shown up, but the last major win Woods had is one that stamped his legacy and will always be remembered.

Forget the fact that Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open with a bum knee and let's revisit the most clutch putt he may have ever hit, coming on the 18th green in a do-or-die situation from 12 feet away and down by one stroke to Rocco Mediate.

Others may have wilted under the pressure—hell, Dustin Johnson did at this year's U.S. Open—but Woods came through in the clutch to force a playoff and, eventually, win the championship.

World Cup Final Shootout Between France and Italy (2006)

It doesn't get much bigger than the World Cup Final, and when the last match of a tournament comes down to a penalty shootout—as 2006's version between Italy and France did—things are always a lot more intense.

This match had it all, with French captain Zinedine Zidane head-butting Italian midfielder Marco Materazzi after the Italian's trash-talking ways as the tension grew.

With Italy winning the shootout and its fourth World Cup title, fans were treated to one of those moments where every single shot matters—and a make or miss can change history.

David Freese Saves the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 6 of World Series (2011)

With the St. Louis Cardinals in a do-or-die Game 6 against the Texas Rangers in the 2011 World Series, they were down to their final strike a couple times with David Freese at the plate and trailing by two runs with two on in the bottom of the ninth inning.

With Rangers closer Netfali Perez having the edge, Freese never gave in, blasting a liner to deep right field that scored the two runners and tied the score, sending the home crowd in to a frenzy many couldn't have imagined happening just a few pitches earlier.

Later in that same game, Freese hit the game-winning walk-off homer in the 11th inning, too, capping one of the most remarkable playoff performances in MLB history.

The win forced a Game 7, which the Cards won to capture the title.

Auburn Tigers Stun Alabama in Iron Bowl (2013)

The annual game between big-time rivals is always classic, but the 2013 version of the Iron Bowl between the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide became an all-timer thanks to its wild finish.

And a matter of seconds changed the fate for both teams.

Here's how it happened.

With Bama possessing the ball and within a possible field-goal attempt, Tide head coach Nick Saban argued for an additional second to be put on the clock after he believed he called a timeout with a tick left—which the refs granted after a review.

That extra second was enough for Bama to line up for a field-goal attempt by kicker Cade Foster, who came up just short for the winning points.

Oh, but that's not where the story ends, as the Tigers' Chris Davis caught the football and ran it back 109 yards for one of the most ridiculous touchdowns in college football history, winning the game for Auburn and preventing Bama from a chance at a national championship three-peat too.

David Tyree's Helmet Catch Propels New York Giants to Super Bowl Upset (2008)

One team was undefeated and searching for history and the other one was looking to shock the world. Those were the stakes as the New England Patriots entered Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants.

Trailing 14-10 with the game clock winding down, the Giants faced a 3rd-and-5 and needing to extend a potential game-winning drive to stay alive.

That's when David Tyree and his helmet came up huge for the G-Men.

As quarterback Eli Manning escaped the Pats rush and spun around to fire a ball downfield, Tyree pinned the 33-yard pass against his helmet with New England defender Rodney Harrison draped over him, hauling in the greatest catch in Super Bowl history.

New York went on to score a few plays later to win the game and upset the favored Pats from becoming the first 19-0 team in NFL history.