3 defenders who scored the match-winning goal in the final of a major tournament

Defenders are probably even more important for a team than their attacking players simply because of the fact that a team cannot lose if they do not concede a goal. However, they do not usually score a lot of goals as they lack the finishing touches of a striker or a midfielder. Moreover, they spend most of the time inside their own half and therefore, do not usually get the opportunity to score a goal.

Usually, most of the big games are decided by strikes from the attacking players and they are the ones who take the plaudits. It is very difficult even for the regular strikers and forwards to score in the finals of the major tournaments, as there is considerable pressure associated with those matches. Moreover, the finals of such tournaments are usually low-scoring affairs as most of the teams adopt a cautious strategy in them.

However, some defenders have managed to score match-winning goals in the finals of the major tournaments for their respective teams. Here are 3 such defenders that scored in the final of a major tournament.

#1. Ronald Koeman (Barcelona vs Sampdoria, 1992 European Cup)

Barca’s dream team were the favorites to win the European Cup final against Italian side Sampdoria. They had players like Michael Laudrup and Hristo Stoichkov in their side, but could not score more than 1 goal in the final. Koeman, who played as a sweeper, scored the all-important goal three minutes to the end of extra time to win the trophy for Barcelona.

Koeman scored the goal from a free-kick as he was a set-piece expert. He has actually scored 239 goals in his entire career and most of them came while playing for Barcelona. He used to take his free-kicks with considerable power and beat Gianluca Pagliuca, the Sampdoria goalkeeper, with a rasping shot.

That was Barcelona’s 2nd European Cup win and Koeman’s contribution to it was immense. He was also very solid defensively in that match. Barca did not allow Sampdoria to make a dramatic last-minute comeback and managed to hold onto the lead.

#2. Andreas Brehme (West Germany vs Argentina, 1990 FIFA World Cup)

West Germany went into the final of the 1990 World Cup as the favourites and had beaten England in the semi-final. Brehme, who played as a left-back, had scored against England too to put his team ahead. However, the most important goal of his career came in the match against Argentina as he shot home a penalty in the 86th minute of the match.

Jurgen Klinsmann was fouled inside the Argentine penalty box and West Germany were awarded a penalty as a result. The regular penalty-taker Lothar Matthaus could not take it and Brehme stepped in for him.

He beat Goycochea, the Argentine goalkeeper, to his right side to win the World cup for the Germans. Goycochea had saved 2 penalties in the semi-final against Italy and it was not easy to score past him in a high-pressure situation, but Brehme did that precisely.

#3. Juliano Belletti (Barcelona vs Arsenal, 2005/06 Champions League)

Barcelona had a very good attacking team in 2005/06 season, comprising of the likes of Xavi, Ronaldinho, Messi and Eto’o, but it took one of their substitutes to win the match against Arsenal in the final. Barcelona came back from a 0-1 deficit to win the match after Arsenal had scored first through a header by Sol Campbell, another defender.

Barcelona coach, Frank Rijkaard, introduced Henrik Larsson and Belletti in the second half. Eto'o equalized in the 76th minute from an assist by Larsson. Larsson then played a pass to the overlapping Belletti, who entered into the Arsenal penalty box through the right side and beat David Seaman with a well-placed shot in the 80th minute.

It was Barcelona’s 3rd European title and the diminutive Brazilian defender played a pivotal role in it. Belletti moved to Chelsea soon after that, but the Barcelona supporters would always remember him for that goal.