10 OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALL MATCHES EVER PLAYED
LIST OF THE 10 OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALL MATCHES EVER PLAYED.
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BRAZIL 4 ITALY 1, WORLD CUP FINAL 1970
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BRAZIL 4 ITALY 1, WORLD CUP FINAL 1970
Two attack-minded sides produced a compelling attacking
spectacle on the game's greatest stage with a brilliant, Pele-inspired Brazil
ultimately proving too strong in Mexico City. Pele headed the opener before
having a hand in two others after a Roberto Boninsegna equaliser. Gerson put
Brazil back ahead, Jairzinho added another and captain Carlos Alberto crowned
victory with a memorable fourth.
LIVERPOOL 3 AC MILAN 3 (3-2 ON
PENS), CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2005
Liverpool's fifth European title came after a dramatic recovery
from a 3-0 half-time deficit in Istanbul. Three quickfire goals in an
exhilarating five-minute spell from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi
Alonso took the match to extra-time and the Reds prevailed in a penalty
shoot-out as Jerzy Dudek made two saves.
BLACKPOOL 4 BOLTON 3, FA CUP
FINAL 1953
Stanley Matthews inspired Blackpool's recovery from 3-1 down to
claim the greatest prize of his career at Wembley. The great England winger
brought the Tangerines back into the game by setting up a second for Stan
Mortensen, who then completed a hat-trick by equalising from a free-kick. Bill
Perry won the game in injury time after more fine work from Matthews.
ENGLAND 3 HUNGARY 6, INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY 1953
England were given a rude wake-up call as they were slayed by
the Magnificent Magyars at Wembley, their first defeat on home soil to a side
from continental Europe. They were on the back foot from the outset with Nandor
Hidegkuti scoring the first of his hat-trick in the second minute. Ferenc
Puskas, whose forward combination with Sandor Kocsis was devastating, added two
and Jozsef Bozsik another in clinical display of attacking football not
previously seen in England.
REAL MADRID 7 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 3, EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 1960
Real Madrid, inspired by the great Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc
Puskas, won a fifth successive European Cup final with a dazzling display of
football at Hampden Park. Frankfurt took an early lead but that spurred Madrid
into action with Di Stefano hitting a hat-trick and Puskas helping himself to
four. Frankfurt's other two goals were mere consolations in the latter stages.
BENFICA 5 REAL MADRID 3, EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 1962
Portuguese giants Benfica ended Real Madrid's early monopoly of
the European Cup in 1961 and then beat the Spanish side in the final the
following year by twice coming from behind. Ferenc Puskas scored a first-half
hat-trick for Madrid but Benfica kept in touch and were level early in the
second half. Eusebio then took charge, scoring twice, the first from the
penalty spot, to secure victory.
ITALY 4 WEST GERMANY 3, WORLD
CUP SEMI-FINAL 1970
A seemingly run-of-the-mill semi-final suddenly exploded into
life after Karl-Heinz Schnellinger struck an injury-time equaliser to send the
game into extra-time. Gerd Muller then put the Germans ahead, forcing the
hitherto cautious Italy to respond. Goals from Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva
put them back in charge but they needed a late winner from Gianni Rivera after Muller made it 3-3.
WEST GERMANY 3 FRANCE 3 (5-4 ON PENS), WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 1982
In a match of controversy and drama, West Germany recovered from
3-1 down to prevail in a shoot-out after goalkeeper Harald Schumacher escaped
punishment for a horrendous foul on Patrick Battiston. With the score 1-1, the
outrushing Schumacher flung himself at Battiston, knocking him unconscious and
dislodging two of his teeth. France recovered from the injustice to take a 3-1
lead in extra-time but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge replied
and a spectacular overhead kick from Klaus Fischer took the game to penalties,
when Schumacher made the decisive save from Maxime Bossis.
FRANCE 1 BRAZIL 1 (4-3 ON PENS), WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL 1986
European champions France ousted a highly-fancied Brazil side on
penalties after an end-to-end encounter. Careca and Michel Platini traded goals in the first half but both
sides spurned numerous chances. Muller hit the post for Brazil and Zico missed
a penalty, while Dominique Rocheteau missed an open goal for France. Socrates
and Platini both missed in the shoot-out but France went through after Julio Cesar hit the post.
MANCHESTER CITY 3 QPR 2, PREMIER LEAGUE 2012
City went
into the final game of the season knowing victory over relegation-threatened
QPR would secure the title but it took them until injury time to pull it out of
the bag. As City surrendered a lead to fall 2-1 behind, rivals Manchester United won at Sunderland to
put one hand on the trophy. Edin Dzeko equalised
with the 90 minutes up before Sergio Aguero struck a dramatic winner to send
the crown City's way deep into added-on time.
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