100 GREAT GOALS: Part IV - more great goals for you to think about

John Harding 09-06-07

How the hell do you select the best goal/goals from the last 100 years of wonderful football? It's a tough one to call but we are asking givemefootball readers to help us name the best of the best. Here are another ten to be going on with, in no particular order and from another a different era...look out for more over the coming weeks and then there will be your chance to vote...

No.31: 1991 - Gazza wins his Spurs in some style

The 1990-91 semi final provided the apex of Paul Gascoigne's early career. Indeed, despite his fleeting Euro 96 renaissance, some might argue that the exocet free kick which soared past David Seaman goal from 35 yards out in the fifth minute of this match was his finest moment. So unlikely was a goal that the TV commentator remarked: "He's not going to have a shot. He is you know." Unlike most free kicks one sees today, this one had no bend on at all, it was simply struck with great power and flew straight into the top corner beating David Seaman in the Arsenal goal who was still diving to stop it long after it had come to rest in the back of the net. Gazza hadn't actually started a game for 11 weeks prior to the semi-final against Arsenal, who were coasting to the title that season. Gary Lineker scored two further goals to send Spurs into the final, but it was the mercurial Geordie's contribution that is remembered.

No.32: 1982 - Bryan Robson's quickest- ever World Cup goal

Tommy Lawton and Bryan Robson each share the distinction of scoring two of the ten fastest England goals in history. Lawton's two came in consecutive matches, in the last match of one season and the first match of the next. Robson's effort against Yugoslavia in 1989 is the fastest England goal scored at Wembley. Whats more, his goal against France in 1982 is the fastest scored by England anywhere and the third fastest scored by any team in World Cup final tournament play! After only 27 seconds, Steve Coppell took a long throw in, Terry Butcher headed it on and an unmarked Robson volleyed it in at the far post. France managed an equaliser but another Robson goal handed the impetus back to England and a comfortable victory. For his quick-time achievement, Bryan received an inscribed gold watch, which he still occasionally wears.

No.33: 1984 - John Barnes produces Brazilian 'poetry in motion' at the Maracana

The 10th of June, 1984 will always be a day to remember for John Barnes, when he scored one of the most breath-taking individual goals ever seen. With England holding their own against Brazil in the Maracana and the game goalless, he received possession on the left wing just over the halfway line. An opponent challenged immediately but Barnes stepped inside and set off towards goal. On and on he went, diagonally towards the penalty area. A series of defenders came to meet him but John ignored them all. Finally, having sidestepped the keeper, there were no more challengers to beat and he rolled the ball into an empty net. Hed outpaced and out-thought several world class Brazilians to claim a goal that brought him worldwide fame but also a sense of heavy expectation, with unreasonable observers and supporters expecting him to produce moments like that on a match-by-match basis.

No.34: 1985 - Norman Whiteside saves Kevin Moran's blushes

Norman Whiteside first made FA Cup history when he became the youngest ever Cup Final goalscorer as United cruised past Brighton 4-0 in the 1983 replay. However, his most famous moment came two years later when United played the League champions Everton in the Final. The match finished 0-0 and, going into extra time reduced to ten men after Kevin Moran had become the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup Final, United were up against it. An Everton 'Double seemed more than likely. Norman had earlier scuffed a great chance from only 8 yards out but soon after he achieved the vital breakthrough. After 110 minutes of play, a fine pass from Mark Hughes saw Norman break with the ball on his own down the left wing. Everton had defenders back and it looked like he had nowhere left to go as he entered the box. Nonetheless, the Ulsterman produced a bit of magic and hit a magnificent curling shot from 20 yards which beat Everton keeper Neville Southall to his right post. Whiteside recalls: "I could see Neville hanging by this near post. I used the defender as a screen so Neville didn't have enough time to reach the ball."

No.35: 1986 - Maradona beats England single-handed!

The second goal scored by Diego Maradona in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match, for Argentina against England on June 22, 1986, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City came shortly after his infamous 'Hand of God goal. Nine minutes into the second half, Héctor Enrique passed the ball to Maradona some ten metres inside his own half. Maradona then began his 60 metre, 10 second dash towards the English goal, leaving behind five English outfield players (Hoddle, Reid, Sansom, Butcher and Fenwick) as well as goalkeeper Peter Shilton to make the score 2-0 to Argentina. Gary Lineker scored a goal for England 25 minutes later, but England was unable to equalize and Argentina won 2-1. About the goal, Maradona said, "I made the play to give it to Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no space. Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself." A statue of Maradona immortalizing the moment has been erected outside the stadium. Recently, Maradona said he could not have scored such a beautiful goal if it had not been against the honest English team, who did not knock him down as most defences used to do. "They are probably the noblest in the world," he added.

No.36: 1987 - Keith Houchen's brilliant diving header painted Wembley Sky Blue!

The Sky Blues of Coventry recovered from the shock of going behind to a Clive Allen goal (his 49th of an incredible season) in under two minutes to win the 106th FA Cup Final in exciting style. A classic match of fluctuating fortunes, hard on the emotions of the two sets of supporters, was finally settled by a desperate own goal six minutes into muscle-cramping extra time. With Tottenham leading 2-1 and threatening to take control midway through the second period, City suddenly fashioned a superb equalising goal that ultimately took this memorable Final into extra time. Bennett broke away down the right and sent in an inviting cross that had Ray Houchen propelling himself forward right in front of goal to head powerfully, and wonderfully, past Clemence. A stunning goal, brilliantly taken! Coventry's 22-year-old midfielder Lloyd McGrath turned match-winner six minutes into the extra half-hour. At the end of a surging run down the right wing, he hit over a hopeful cross-cum-shot which took a wicked deflection off Mabbutt's outstretched leg and looped over the hapless Clemence's head into the far corner of the goal. Coventry had won the FA Cup but it had been Rays stunner that turned the tide.

No.37: 1988 - Lawrie Sanchez heads the Crazy Gang to victory

Outsiders at 33-1 before the Third Round in January, Wimbledon turned the form book upside down to beat Liverpool, recently crowned League champions and one of the hottest favourites for years, in the 107th Challenge Cup Final before a shirt-sleeved 98,000 crowd in the stadium and about 250 million television viewers worldwide. In the 37th minute, following a disallowed Peter Beardsley goal, Wimbledon got the vital strike that ultimately won the Cup for the unfashionable team from a quiet London suburb. Full back Terry Phelen was jostled by Steve Nicol near to the corner flag out on the left, and when Dennis Wise's right-footer from the free kick curled in towards the near post, Lawrie Sanchez - born in London with a father from Ecuador and an Irish mother - scored with a simple glancing header into the far corner. It was his first FA Cup goal and only his fifth all season! Dave Beasant later saved a penalty (the first ever saved at Wembley) and the Cup was Wimbledon's!

No.38: 1989 - Michael Thomas snatches the title from under the Kop's nose

Arsenal came to Anfield needing to win 2-0 to snatch the title. After a goalless first half, Alan Smith scored soon after the restart, heading in a free kick from Nigel Winterburn, but as full time approached it looked as if Arsenal were not going to score the second vital goal they needed. Then, with 91 minutes and 22 seconds of the game played, Michael Thomas wrote his name into the history books as the player who scored one of the most dramatic championship winners of all time. Dixon passed the ball upfield to Alan Smith, who flicked it on into Thomas' path. The ball bobbled as he ran into the area and calmly, oh so calmly chipped the ball over a diving Grobbelaar! Liverpool had lost by two goals at home for the first time since 1986, Arsenal had won their first Championship since 1970-71, their ninth in all and North London erupted in a fever pitch of celebrations.

No.39: 1990 - David Platt's Belgian blast is sweeter than chocolate

Although David Platt had few caps and had shown little promise as an international footballer by the time Bobby Robson named his 22 players for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he earned a place due to his versatility and reliability. He was on the bench for all of England's group games, but was sent on as an extra-time substitute in the second round game against Belgium. Despite Belgium hitting the post twice, and a Barnes goal being incorrectly disallowed for offside, the teams were deadlocked at nil-nil and penalties looked inevitable as the dying minutes of extra-time approached. Then a free-kick was awarded half-way between the centre circle and the penalty area. Paul Gascoigne chipped the ball over the Belgian defence toward the right-hand post, Platt edged away, losing his marker and, staying onside and as the ball came over his right shoulder, spun and volleyed the ball over the Belgian keeper into the far corner of the goal! A minute later the final whistle went and Davids first goal for his country had sent England into the quarter finals.

No.40: 1990 Gary Lineker's equaliser sets up shoot-out drama

With just ten minutes left in tense and draining encounter, and with Germany leading 1-0, England supporters were beginning to fear the worst. Then, right-back Paul Parker gained possession on the right, looked up and fired over a long, hopeful cross into the German area. German defender Kohler failed to deal with it allowing Gary Linekar to catch it neatly on his thigh as he ran at full speed. Harried and bumped, he swept voraciously past the flailing Augenthaler, past Berthold too – and fired left-footed with immaculate precision past keeper Illgner. Looking mad with joy, eyes bulging, he sprinted away, fists and teeth clenched It was classic Gary Lineker and suddenly it was 1-1! Sadly for England, penalties were to follow…