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It was the
92nd minute of the very last match of the
1988-89 season,
probably the most significant and dramatic in English Football history. For only the third time in the 101-year
existence of the Football League, the two leading teams were playing for the Championship on the final day of
the season. Uniquely, there were no other games this day. It really was the last game of the
season.
Arsenal were winning
1-0 at Anfield, in any other circumstances an
outstanding result. But here, at that moment, it meant that Liverpool were going to win the League and the Double by a single
goal. Both clubs had the same number of points, but Liverpool had a goal difference advantage of
just one. It would be Liverpool's second double in four seasons.
Into injury time the teams went, and there were seconds left before Liverpool became one of the greatest teams ever, but along came
Lee
Dixon, who played a fantastic long ball to
Alan Smith, who moved the ball
deftly to Michael Thomas, who caught a lucky bounce from the ball, and took it towards the goal, past Nicol, off a
defender, and into the penalty area. Grobbelaar, who had just saved an earlier shot from
Thomas,
came out to pressure him, but as he did so, Thomas lifted the ball over him, and into the net for the
most amazing, and unbelievable goal, ever.
2-0, final score. Pandemonium. Grown men were crying, not out of sadness, but
out of amazement that Arsenal had become Champions in such a way. And over
such a team as Liverpool.
Never will that day be forgotten by any person associated with Arsenal, or Liverpool. And
never again will a Championship be decided in a way so desperate, and so closely.
Ever.
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