Last-minute goals are scored in the 90th minute, or stoppage time, of a game. A late score can have a big impact on the game, as the other team will probably have little more than a minute or two to score again. Late tallies have won finals in various cups, such as the Champions League and FA Cup. These are some of the best clutch kicks that found the back of the net in soccer cup finals.
Perhaps the most exciting finale played at Wembley was that of the 1966 FIFA World Cup final. England took on West Germany, and the Germans went a goal up in the first half. England got back into the game and, with minutes left to play, were 2–1 up. Shortly before the end of the match, the Germans equalized from within the England penalty box to take the game to extra time.
That was a late goal, but it would have little impact on the game as England restored their lead with a debatable goal. Hurst’s strike sent the ball rebounding off the German crossbar, over the line, and out of the goal. What was not entirely clear to everybody was whether the whole ball had gone over the line or not, but the goal was still given by the linesman.
A better goal would come in the last minute of the game when Hurst picked up the ball, ran for the goal, and struck the ball into the roof of Germany’s net. There could be no doubt that it was among the best last-minute goals scored in a match, which made the final score England 4 Germany 2. As the goal was Hurst’s third of the game, it completed a World Cup final hat-trick.
Treble-chasing Manchester Utd took on Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. In the first half, Bayern Munich went a goal up. They retained their lead for most of the game up to stoppage time.
Manchester United were not beaten as one last-minute goal leveled the score at 1–1. In the 92nd minute, another Utd corner was given and whipped in by Beckham for Solskjaer to head home the winning second. Thus, the game was won with two last-minute goals, and United lifted the European Cup. Although Solskjaer’s late winner was almost a tap-in from close range, I include it among the best last-minute goals for its historical significance.
In their second Cup Winners’ Cup final, Arsenal took on the Spanish team Real Zaragoza. Zaragoza had taken the lead in the second half, but Arsenal equalized to take the game into extra time. When the game went to extra time, there were no further goals for most of the period up to the final minute.
In the last minutes of the game, Nayim picked up the ball within Arsenal’s half of the pitch, but some 40 yards from the goal. Nayim’s audacious lob from 40 yards out sent the ball flying up and over Arsenal’s goalkeeper into the back of their net. It was a great winning goal, almost from the halfway line.
There have been several last-minute winning goals in the FA Cup final. Liverpool have won a few trophies in the final minutes, and their cup final with West Ham in 2006 was another that included a last-minute goal from the Reds. Whilst it was not a winning goal, it still won Liverpool the cup.
As West Ham went two goals up in the first half, Liverpool had to come from behind to level the scores. In the second, West Ham scored a third that restored their lead. However, the game was far from over as stoppage time approached.
In stoppage time, Gerrard picked up the ball from outside West Ham’s box, about 30 yards from goal. A 30-yard strike sent the ball flying into the back of West Ham’s net. It was one of the best last-minute goals ever scored that ensured the game went to extra time. As neither team scored any further goals, Liverpool won the game during the penalty shoot-out.
Nothing beats the drama of the late winners or equalizers in soccer cup finals. Those were a few of the best last-minute goals scored in the soccer cup finals. They were great goals that won the cups for their teams.
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