No this isn’t World War II’s Operation Bagration, this is the best and most memorable football counter attacks in history.
6. Fernando Torres – Chelsea (2012)
Fernando Torres is one of the worst transfers in history but Chelsea’s £50 million mistake somehow redeemed himself in a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Chelsea hoofed the ball downfield to an unmarked Torres who was played onside by the fact he hadn’t crossed the halfway mark at the time of the pass. Torres rounded Victor Valdes with the composure expected for someone worth so much.
The context is what makes this counter attack fascinating. Chelsea was down 2-0 on the night against the best team of the generation. John Terry was given an uncharacteristic straight red card for an ugly tackle, a shock considering how much of a gentleman he is …
Chelsea also lost Gary Cahill to an injury which meant Branislav Ivanovic and Jose Bosingwa became the makeshift centre back duo defending against one of the best attacks in football history.
Somehow Ramires scored a goal for Chelsea before halftime against the run of play which meant they were sensationally leading the tie on the away goal rule. After parking the bus and miraculously keeping Barcelona at bay, Torres locked in a Finals berth against Bayern Munich which they went on to win, erasing any memory of Iniesta’s heartbreaking last second goal a few seasons earlier.
5. Nacer Chadli – Belgium (2018)
Belgium were down 2-0 in the biggest tournament in football. Begian, one of the 2018 World Cup favourites, was staring at elimination in the Round of 16 clash. Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini scored two goals in five minutes to bring them back into the game by the 74th minute.
In the 94th minute, Japan had a corner and was looking for the winner. From the cross, Thibaut Courtois grabbed the ball in flight and threw the ball straight to Kevin De Bruyne with what was to be the last passage of play until extra time. De Bruyne ran with the ball at speed, passed it wide to Thomas Meunier who slid the ball into the box, Romelu Lukaku completing an epic dummy and Nacer Chadli finishing cleanly to end the game. The devastating counter attack took 12 seconds from Courtois catching it to Chadli scoring, finishing off one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history.
4. Andrei Arshavin – Arsenal (2009)
Arshavin single-handedly earned Arsenal a draw in one of the greatest Premier League games of all-time. He scored all four of Arsenal’s goals in a 4-4 draw against Liverpool which ended up derailing their title chances. His tally included two goals in three minutes but it was his last goal in stoppage time on a devastating counter-attack which was the best of them all.
From a Liverpool corner, Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianksi punched the ball clear with Theo Walcott latching onto the ball and charging forward on the counter attack. It had to be Arshavin, the only other Arsenal player who could be bothered to surge ahead. Walcott played the ball well into open space and Arshavin smashed the ball past a helpless Pepe Reina.
Arsenal went ahead with what was looking like the most unlikely wins but Liverpool equalised in the dying stages of the game. It would’ve been a better story if they didn’t.
3. Jamie Vardy – Leicester City (2016)
A few lucky punters backed Leicester City at 5000-1 odds to win the Premier League season in 2015/16. Leicester built their unbelievable title run on the back of devastating counter-attacking football. Jamie Vardy’s speed and his movement was pivotal with the tactic and there isn’t a better example than Vardy’s strike against Liverpool, one of his 24 league goals during the season.
Inside his own penalty area, Danny Drinkwater broke up a Liverpool attack. His clearance landed with Riyad Mahrez who lofted a long ball forward with Vardy latching onto it. After letting the ball bounce, Vardy smashed a brilliant 25-year striker over Simon Mignolet, Vardy revealed after the game that he’d seen the keeper stray off his line previously. Chat Sh!t, Get Banged.
2. Troy Deeny – Watford (2013)
Before Leicester’s amazing 2015/16 title run, they lost an enthralling Championship play-off semi-final from a seemingly impossible position. Watford lost the first leg 1-0. Ahead 2-1 in the second leg and with no away goal rule in place, the match was destined for extra time until
Leicester’s Anthony Knockaert fell to the ground deep into injury time in controversial circumstances.
He looked set to take Leicester to the playoff final for a place in the Premier League but somehow he buckled. Watford’s Manuel Almunia saved the penalty as well as the follow up rebound and the ball was cleared up field.
Watford survived certain death and would’ve been happy to go into extra time but on the counter-attack, Ikechi Anya controlled the clearance, feeding the ball to Fernando Forestieri who crossed it to Jonathan Hogg at the back post. Hogg headed it back to Troy Deeney who smashed the ball past the keeper completing one of the most amazing counter-attacks in history.
1. Olivier Giroud – Arsenal (2017)
Giroud’s goal against Crystal Palace was so amazing, it earned him the FIFA Puskás Award 2017. The lead up play was Arsenal at their finest and epitomises their playing style.
Deep inside their own half, Arsenal’s Lucas Perez intercepts a pass to start the break. Giroud cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Granit Xhaka taking two defenders out in the process. Xhaka found Alexis Sanchez in open space down the left and then delivered a cross into the box.
The ball went behind Giroud who scorpion kicked the ball which came off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.
The strike completed a devastating 13-second counter attack from Arsenal’s penalty area. The beautiful lead up play and stunning finish makes Giroud’s Puskas Award-winning goal the most memorable and best counter attack in history. But Arsenal are still waiting for a first Premier League title since 2004.
