The Greatest Football Match Ever


I would argue that the greatest football match ever was the F.A. Cup Semi-Final Replay between Arsenal and Man Utd at Villa Park in the Spring of 1999. This is the year of the famous Treble that was achieved by Man Utd, if they secured the F.A. Cup, European Cup and the Premier League, and even to anyone watching them over that season, destiny would be the one of the first words used to spell it out that season. And one of the best types of that has been the match against The Gunners.

스포츠분석 took the lead by way of a wonderful 25-yard curling shot from David Beckham which nestled into the the bottom left hand corner of David Seamen’s net. The dream start had come for Utd. David Beckham, other things that he may be, is gifted I feel with a tremendous right foot, and he has the capability to generate enormous amounts of spin.

It stayed 1-0 until mid-way through the next half when Denis Bergkamp, Arsenal’s Dutch forward, cut inside from the left wing and struck a go. It had been a weak effort, but gaining a deflection from Utd defender Jaap Stam it hit the back of the web, leaving the goal-keeper Peter Schmeichel stranded. The momentum had shifted. It is important to remember that in football matches, that momentum can over-ride skill and ability.

And it shifted even more when Roy Keane, the tenacious captain of Utd, was sent off for a miss-timed challenge on winger Marc Overmars. It seemed a matter of time before Utd would capitulate. Still they held out. Normally, this is done due to a solid defensive showing where organisation and teamwork are paramount

But lo and behold, in the 90th minute, with the overall game heading towards extra-time, Arsenal won a penalty as Phil Neville felled Ray Parlour in the box. Up stepped Bergkamp, which time Schmeichel, The Great Dane, was victorious, guessing correctly that the ball would go to his right. Utd had got to extra time. This is no mean feat, saving a penalty is among the hardest what to achieve in football. It needs guesswork ,reading the opponent’s intentions and committing 100% to a particular position of the target milli-seconds before the shot is taken.

Arsenal, though were not disheartened, and continued to assault the Utd defense, with Bergkamp going again close on several occasions. Then in the second period, came the defining moment.

Ryan Giggs, the Welsh Wizard, picked up a loose ball by Patrick Vieira inside their own half. He thus began on a meandering, jaw dropping solo run, that saw him bob and weave through the entire Arsenal defense, before unleashing a thunderbolt into the roof of the net from 6 yards out. Only Maradona and Lionel Messi could claim I believe after that passage of play to possess scored with a more impressive dribble.












































































































































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