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As we come to the end of the year 2012, let’s take a look at the top five moments in football this year.
1. Manchester City winning EPL after 44 years :
Manchester City scripted a fairy tale comeback against QPR to win the English Premier League title after 44 years. QPR, down to 10 men, took a 2-1 lead and it looked as if City would miss out on a chance to win the title, until Eden Dzeko scored in the second minute of five minutes of stoppage time and Sergio Aguero scored another goal to seal the match and the league. City and United were tied on points but it was City that won the league due to their superior goal difference.
2. Chelsea winning the UEFA Champions League :
In the Champions League final, Bayern took the lead through Thomas Muller’s header in the 83rd minute at the Allianz Arena. But their joy did not last long as Didier Drogba’s bullet header in the 87th minute levelled things up. Bayern had the chance to take a 2-1 lead in extra time as they got a penalty due to a clumsy challenge from Chelsea’s goal scorer Didier Drogba but Cech saved it. The game finished with a 1-1 scoreline. The winner was to be decided on penalties. Chelsea won the penalty shootout 4-3 and won the Champions League for the first time.
3. Real Madrid winning their 32nd La Liga title :
Real Madrid won their 32nd league title by clinching the 2011-2012 La Liga . The club, with 16 home and 16 away wins, broke a lot of records on their way to the title, finished with 100 points and scored 121 goals. 89 goals were scored by the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain. Mesut Ozil, with 17 assists to his name, was the leading assist provider in the league.
4. Spain winning Euro 2012 :
Spain claimed their 3rd successive major trophy by mauling Italy in the final of Euro 2012. Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba gave them a 2-0 lead in the first half. Italy were down to 10 men after their 3rd substitute Thiago Motta had to go off due to an injury. The Chelsea pair of Fernando Torres and Juan Mata added insult to injury by scoring one goal each. Spain’s toughest test was in the semifinals against Ronaldo’s Portugal. The match went into penalties after a 0-0 draw. Spain won the penalty shootout 4-2 and confirmed their place in the finals and the rest is history.
5. Messi breaking Gerd Muller’s record :
Lionel Messi with 91 goals to his name in 2012 broke the long standing record of Gerd Muller’s 86 goals in a calendar year.
“Leo is supernatural,” said Messi’s team-mate Gerard Piqué.
Indeed he is. Considering the fact that he is just 25, he will break a few more records in the years to come. He is one of the best players the game has ever seen.
