Wednesday 12 December 2012

2012 Sporting Memories: THAT Aguero Goal

Okay, so for my third post in a 10-part series of 2012 sporting memories, I decided to stop beating about the bush and discuss the greatest goal in Premier League history. Greatest, not because of the finish, build-up play, individual brilliance or outright outrageousness, but because of the shockwave-causing implications it caused...
Sergio Aguero. Where do we even start. it's often said that you remember where you were when you heard a significant news story break... for any sports fan, this goal provokes the same statement. I was on the edge of my sofa, grinning like a goon at Jeff Sterling on Sky Sports News, as he neared inevitable explosion thanks to his animated excitement. With the Premier League in the balance at both ends of the table, all eyes were on the Etihad Stadium with title-challengers Manchester City facing QPR, a team battling for Premier League survival. Despite the two teams contrasting fortunes... they had some definitive similarities. In fact, its the word 'fortune' that causes the most significant similarity between them, with bibilically rich owners, high investment rates, and intense expectation resting on the the shoulders of both teams managers, Roberto Mancini and Mark Hughes.
Anyway, back to the point. That goal. Who could forget the scenes of desperation? City were drawing level with QPR, in stoppage time, and facing not the Premier League title, but that all to familiar title of 'Manchester's second best', with rivals United beating Sunderland and heading for another championship. BUT THEN; in it went. Sergio Aguero scores from close range to put City ahead, give City the title, and send every single City and neutral fan into absolute pandemonium. Through the thick, ugly, unpleasant smoke-screen of  'money in Football', came a goal that bought out scenes of pure passion and joy. A moment which when the net behind Paddy Kenny's goal was disturbed,  caused the most outrageous and joyous scenes ever witnessed in the Premier Leagues 20 seasons, and perhaps even the finest in world football as a whole.
I for one, was beyond words, laughing in disbelief! For one thing, I prefer United if im brutally honest! And for that, I came to a conclusion that day: If (here comes an idiotic statement) 'money bought the league', and caused such a climatic finish to it, then shake the sheikh's hand for doing so. That wasn't money, that was football, at it's finest.

No comments:

Post a Comment