My Top Three Games of My Lifetime

My Top Three Games of My Lifetime

           Contrary to the belief that I am in my mid-forties with kids and a mortgage, I am only nineteen, therefore I haven't seen some of the classic games that the older generation were treated to. The first game that I remember watching was the 2006 FA Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, although I know my Dad took me to a random 'Kids for a Quid' game at Forest in 2004 against Burnley.

          So, in light of Manchester United's comeback at the weekend against Manchester City, to deny the Sky Blues the title, and the impending game between Liverpool and Manchester City which could see a monumental Champions League turnaround, I'm going to list the best three games that I have seen in my lifetime.

1. Nottingham Forest 5 - 2 Derby

I'm a Forest fan, this had to be top!

         What a night this was. Forest fans were still singing the club anthem, Mull of Kintyre, when the Reds took the lead. A Luke Chambers header from a corner set the ground alight. The atmosphere throughout was immense, particularly as two former Derby players scored a brace each for Forest Earnshaw with one, Tudguy with the other. Derby's goals came from Moore and Kris Commons, himself a former Forest player, making the tie interesting.
          The side itself had some familiar faces in it. Aaron Ramsey began his recovery from a broken leg with a loan spell at Forest. Ryan Bertrand, on loan from Chelsea started at left back. Wes Morgan, Leicester's title winning captain was in the Forest team and so was Chris Gunter, Wales' most capped outfield player. Forest had some cult heroes playing for them that night as well. Guy Moussi, Radi Majewski as well as Nathan Tyson!
          Derby were a mess that night, and Forest were on fire. The commentary by BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray was exceptional as well. It has led to some iconic clips that Forest fans will remember for a very long time.

2. Liverpool 3 - 3 West Ham ((aet) Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties)

Steven Gerrard, doing was Steven Gerrard does.

          What a game this was. As I said previously, this was the first game I remember watching and what a game to start with. West Ham raced to a two goal lead through a Jamie Carragher own goal and Dean Ashton pouncing on Jose Reina's mistake. This game was probably the best game Steven Gerrard ever played for Liverpool. It was his long raking diagonal ball to Djibral Cisse to pull Liverpool's first goal back. Early in the second half Gerrard hammered a volley into the top corner of the West Ham net form just inside the box.

          As the second half went on, Jose Reina made another mistake. Paul Konchesky's cross-cum-shot (that's one for anyone who follows Ollerton Town on Twitter!) went straight over the head of Reina who was back peddling. West Ham had the lead again. Enter Steven Gerrard. As the game wore on it looked unlikely that Liverpool would pull the game back. It seemed as though Liverpool had eight men in the West Ham box. A high ball was played in on the 90th minute, it was headed away, only as far as Gerrard who hammered the ball from 35 yards first time into the net. That made it 3-3 and sent the game to extra time.

           Extra time itself was uneventful, both teams had chances but tiring limbs made the chances go to waste. In the penalty shoot-out Reina made up for his poor display in the game itself by saving three penalties to give Liverpool the win.

3. Manchester City 3 - 2 QPR

'Balotelli, to Aguerooooooooooooo!.... I swear you'll never see anything like this again. So watch it, drink it in.'

          What a game this was. Manchester City were 2-1 down with 5 minutes to go, Manchester United were 1-0 up in there game. If City won then they'd win the league, if they didn't then their cross-city rivals would. Just as United's game ended, Edin Dzeko scored for City to drag them level. Everyone across the country must have been watching on, waiting to see what happened. I would say that everyone, barring all Manchester United fans, was willing for City to win the League.

          As more time wore on, in Sunderland, Manchester United fans and players thought that was it, they thought the league was theirs. But in Manchester, it seemed even QPR were willing City to win the league, not really countering in numbers when they could and allowing City to press them.

          That's when it happened. Aguero picked up the ball from deep. played it into Balotelli, who played it back to Aguero in the box who hammered into the net. This was Balotelli's first and last assist in a Manchester City shirt. It also brought about some of the most iconic moments in football commentary. What a game. What a moment. What a finale!

That's all for this week guys.

Until next week.

Craig.