There are goals, there are last-ditch sliding tackles, there are also inch-perfect through balls and heavenly long-balls. And then there are goal-line clearances. The special thing about goal-line clearances is that they are the true definition of ‘last-gasp attempt’.
When the goalkeeper fails to read the ball and lets it past him, when it seems like the ball is destined to hit the inside of the net, when all hope is lost, someone from nowhere comes to the rescue and clears the ball off the line—pumping the spirits of his team-mates and putting the opponents under despair.
And here are 7 of the best instances when the ball was stopped at the very, very last moment…
#7 Raul Albiol against Sevilla
This is one of the most controversial goal-line clearance of all time as fans still, to this day, argue about whether this was in or out. However, what can’t be denied is that it was a valiant effort from Raul Albiol and that the referee deemed it outside the goal-line, hence making this one of the best stops ever.
As Luis Fabiano was clean through on goal with only Iker Casillas to beat, the Brazilian rounded off the Spanish legend and had the goal at his mercy. Sevilla fans, at that point, were sure that their team would equalise against the capital club, but Albiol had other plans.
The Spanish defender ran in like a raging bull about to attack a red piece of cloth in the form of a football. He slid in, but his first interception wasn’t enough as the ball was still travelling in. The momentum from the slide took him inside the goal, and yet, against all odds, he managed to keep the ball out by pushing it with the soles of his boot.
#6 Ashley Young against Stoke
Goal-line clearances are always special considering that they are truly a last-gasp attempt to stop a goal. However, clearances like that become even more special when they happen in the dying moments of the game.
Only a few teams divided opinions like Manchester United did under Louis van Gaal, but when the fans look back at that era, they stand united (pun intended) in claiming that this was one of the best moments during that phase.
As Stoke City were chasing late equaliser, the ball fell kindly to Mame Diouf from a corner. Diouf was only 4 yards away from the goal and David De Gea was horribly out of position. The Senegalese took his shot in an instant, but Ashley Young slid in his feet out of nowhere.
Given the speed of the moment, there was almost no time for a reaction, but Young’s awareness and response in the blink of an eye was a sight to behold.
#5 Varane against Barca
This will forever be remembered as the game where the mighty Barcelona were single-handedly stopped by a 19-year-old defender who was playing in his first ever El Clasico. Till date, this clash against Barcelona was Raphael Varane’s best game and one of the greatest ever by a defender.
Stopping an entire attack all alone is one thing, stopping the players of peak Barcelona is something else entirely. As Madrid were looking to ascertain their dominance over the Catalans, they were held with the blow of losing their first choice defenders, Ramos and Pepe.
Ricardo Carvalho was on a severe decline at that point of time, leaving Varane with the added burden of covering for the ageing Portuguese. And he did it with style. As Carvalho back-pass fell kindly on to Fabregas, the Spaniard rounded Diego Lopez before squaring the ball for Xavi Hernandez.
The midfield maestro had ample space and time to shoot at an open goal. So he took two touches to put himself in a comfortable shooting position and then shot it with the assurance of a goal, but little did he know that Varane was surging in like an express train and stopped the ball from going in at the very last moment.
#4 David Luiz against Spain
The final of any tournament is a special occasion for the players involved, regardless of the global importance of the said tourney. So when Spain took on Brazil in the Confederation Cup final in 2013, fans were hoping for spectacle with Spain edging it in the end.
But Confederation Cups are Brazil’s thing, you know. Hosting the event meant that the South American team were one of the participants despite not winning the preceding World Cup or Copa America. Spain, on the other hand, were not only World Champions but had also won the Euros the year before.
All things pointed towards a Spain win, but Brazil were in the mood that day. After conceding the first goal, Spain responded by attacking in waves and Pedro Rodriguez almost turned one such wave into a goal.
After Juan Mata released Pedro, the latter took the ball onto his left and produced a finesse shot that beat Julio Cesar. However, against all odds, David Luiz appeared from thin air and slid in with his right foot blocking the ball and taking it over the cross-bar.
#3 Jerome Boateng against Ukraine
When a goal-line clearance grabs more attention than a goal in a football match, you know that it was something extraordinary. As Germany took on Ukraine in a Euro 2016 clash, they opened the scoring thanks to Shkodran Mustafi’s header from a Toni Kroos set piece.
Ukraine, however, kept fighting and came very close to scoring an equaliser when Yevhen Konoplyanka’s cross from a half-volley deflected off Jerome Boateng and was traversing into the goal. Boateng, who was also following a similar trajectory as he was falling inside his own goal, however, kicked the ball out at the very last moment to deny Ukraine a goal.
Given that Boateng himself was horribly off-balance, this was a remarkable feat in its own right.
#2 Marcelo against Bayern
Marcelo is regarded as the best left-back in the world due to his unparalleled attacking prowess. However, there is a stereotype against him that he doesn’t know how to defend. While it might have been true some years back, this is nothing more than a myth now.
If one just searches the term Marcelo and goal-line clearances, she/he will be flattered with a flurry of videos of the Brazilian saving his team at the very last minute, such is his influence at the back now. Against Bayern Munich, Marcelo denied Robben after the Dutchman successfully beat the goalkeeper.
As Alaba squared in the ball for Arjen Robben, the former Real Madrid winger managed to squeeze a shot from the toughest of angles. The ball seemed destined for the net, but there was Marcelo guarding the net like a proper Knight.
Shortly after that, Bayern scored from a penalty, making us wonder what could have been had this gone in.
#1 Neven Subotic against Bayern
The stage at which this moment took place is what makes this the best goal-line clearance of recent times. Matches between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are always of the highest magnitude, but this game was further special due to the fact that it was a Champions League final.
With just 20 minutes left in the game, the score was locked at 1-1. A Borussia Dortmund attack was interrupted by the Bavarians and the former were now vulnerable to be countered. In the end, Thomas Muller found himself going around Roman Weidenfeller and crossing the ball to Arjen Robben for a seemingly simple tap-in from 2 yards out.
However, there was only one problem: an on-rushing Neven Subotic slid in with vengeance and cleared the ball off the line before the Dutchman could get a touch on it. Dortmund might have gone on to lose the game, but it was still an epic clearance.
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