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In the 95th minute of Watford versus Leicester at Vicarage Road, the second leg of a Football League Championship playoff match, aggregate was stuck at 2-2. With the game heading for extra time, something extraordinary happened.
Leicester was awarded a penalty after Marco Cassetti nudged Anthony Knockaert in the penalty area, despite the light contact, and it appeared Watford’s fate was sealed.
What a cruel blow it would’ve been, but what followed was nothing short of amazing.
Former Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia showed why he was an important part of Watford’s success – not only saving the penalty with his legs, but then saving the second shot that Knockaert had on goal.
The ball was then cleared from the area, with Watford’s Fernando Forestieri racing with the ball down the sideline crossing into the penalty area, which was headed back to Troy Deeney who sent a thunderous volley into the back of the net and sent the crowd into raptures.
An unbelievable less-than-a-minute which changed the future of both clubs.
Watford now has a chance to beat Crystal Palace at Wembley and gain promotion to the English Premier League for the first time since the 2006-7 season.
Meanwhile, the loss is a body blow for Leicester, whose fortunes would be far different had the penalty been converted.
They are now resigned to the N Power League for another season.
This is the brutal reality of English football, where the possibilities are endless; you only have to look at the relegation battles that happen each year.
It is a dog fight to get out of the bottom three, with some teams not knowing until the last match whether they will be relegated or not.
In last season’s English Premier League, the champion wasn’t known until the final seconds of Manchester City’s match with Queens Park Rangers – a day filled with drama and jubilation for a team that lived in its rival’s shadow for as long as its supporters could remember.
Manchester United went to the top of the table after beating Sunderland 1-0, with QPR setting out to make life for Manchester City difficult.
In a dramatic second half QPR took a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute despite being a man down, after Joey Barton was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez.
As the clock wound down it appeared Manchester United, who had just finished their game, would celebrate yet another successful season.
It was not to be however as Edin Dzeko equalized in the 92nd minute, with Sergio Aguero completing the great escape in the 94th minute to allow Manchester City to win their first league for 44 years.
While Australian sport has its moments, there is nothing that even compares to these magic moments during the English football seasons.
For even the biggest rugby diehard, these moments are enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
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