So I thought to help launch the series off I'd present in video form my top 5 cult moments.
Number 5 - Manchester Utd v Bayern Munich - Champions League Final 1999
Nowadays we're no strangers to great comebacks, but this one has to be the starting place. In the Champions League Final one nil down to the German table toppers, Manchester United chasing the Treble seemed to be on the verge of defeat. They hadn't had many clear cut chances & Bayern rattled the woodwork twice, with Keane and Scholes missing they were losing the midfield battles. But then into injury time, substitutes Sheringham & Solskjær won the game for United, this was no "Fergie Time" it was a hard fought and deserved victory.
Number 4 - Real Zargoza v Arsenal - Cup Winners Cup Final 1995
Last minute goals are always up there when it comes to Cult Moments and you won't find one much better than this. The scores were level with the game in the last seconds of extra time when the ball fell to Nayim just inside the Arsenal half, Seaman was off his line with his mind perhaps on penalties as Nayim sent to ball lobbing over his head and into the net. The most spectacular goal ever scored in a European final? Possibly.
Number 3 - France V Italy - World Cup Final 2006
Of course it's not all about scoring goals, sometimes it's the action of the player without the ball that grabs the attention. And while we would never condone such situations, this ugly side of football does add to the drama of The Beautiful Game. It was Zidane's last World Cup, he announced his retirement from football before the tournament, he'd also been awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the Finals but one moment of madness saw it all end in disaster. Some choice words alleged to be about his Sister from Italian Materazzi saw the Frenchman headbutt him in the chest, a deserved red card followed and the glittering career of one of the world's greatest players came to a downbeat end.
Number 2 - Arsenal v Liverpool - 26th May 1989
Another last minute winner, this time in the last minutes of the last game of the season. Arsenal needed to win by two goals to pip Liverpool to the title. The Reds had already won an emotional FA Cup Final against neighbours Everton in the same campaign that had seen Merseyside devastated by the Hillsborough Tragedy and it was due to a logical postponement of the originally scheduled game that saw this match being played on a Friday night. Like many moments in football the drama was added to by some nicely timed commentary, on this occasion by Brain Moore.
Number 1 - Crystal Palace v Man Utd 1995
Arguably the most infamous moment in Football at number one. The majority of football fans could tell you where they were when this happened but what about the score or the scorers? No the match will always be remembered for a kick, and a few punches. Eric Cantona had had a colourful career even before his shock move for the bargain price of £1 million pounds from then rivals Leeds Utd. But Alex Ferguson was the man who would tame him of course and he had or so it seemed. But an initial sending off for a kick at an opponent started a chain of events that would end in possibly the most infamous football quote "When the seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
So there's my top five, don't forget the check out our image gallery for these and many more that we'll be adding to all the time.
As with all best of's I expect there to be disagreements and debate, so don't forget if you want to give us your view, comment below!'
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