10 goals that caused heartbreak to opposition fans

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates scoring the second goal for Manchester United×Proofread In sport, the joy of winning is inevitably accompanied by the agony of (someone else’s) defeat. Very few have it in them to take the great Rudyard Kipling’s words to heart and treat triumph and disaster just the same, especially when triumph is taken away after there is after a very real hope of success.For, as the incomparable John Cleese stated in the classic British comedy ‘Clockwise’ - “It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.”Here’s a look at ten goals, goals that were last minute winners in the Champions League, Premiership title deciders, La Liga relegation deciders, goals that have thrown nations out of the World Cup; goals that have caused unimaginable heartbreak to opposition fans.Author’s note – The list is by no means definitive and is put in no particular order

#1 Ole Gunnar Solskjr Manchester United 2: 1 Bayern Munich

The 1999 Champions League final – Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United - the game that would capture the world’s imagination and set impossible standards for future Champions League finals to follow. We all know what happened – United had come into the game without the suspended Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, and their makeshift midfield had been dominated all game long by a strong Munich outfit.

The Bavarians led for the vast majority of the game after Mario Basler’s free-kick took a deflection en route to beating Peter Schmeichel in the United goal, and going into injury time, they never seemed likely to relinquish the lead. Bayern were going to be European Champions after twenty-three long years, and deservedly so.

Three minutes, two David Beckham corners, and two instinctive–poachers finishes from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær later, that dream lay shattered to bits. It is when we listen to the game with German commentary instead of the usual exuberant English, that we truly grasp just how traumatic it was for the Bavarian club and its fans.

For those who can’t watch the video – “We are in the final few minutes. Not many injuries in the second half, but Italian referees seem to add more time when it’s a good game”. “Another Corner… Maybe the last chance for Manchester United, or the last dangerous moment for Bayern.” As the corner is swung in - “Giggggs! This can’t be real! Teddy Sheringham… it just can’t be true”

As he tries to grasp the significance of the goal – “Bayern had their hands on the trophy… I don’t believe it” *long pause*“Another corner. Somehow we‘re into the 93rd minute. Only Collina (the ref) knows where the extra time has come from” . Then, the most underwhelming commentary of a last minute cup winner you will ever hear – “That’s it…” *long pause* “...Solskjær..” – his words giving voice to the utter heartrbreak of the Bayern fans.