We’re sticking with soccer for the second in our series of Betslip Killers articles. In this series we take a look at some of the most dramatic finishes to sporting events that rendered good betting slips worthless in the final moments of the game (or tournament). From soccer, to the NBA, and golf to snooker there are some absolute classics that had people crying into their worthless pieces of paper.
2011/2012 English Premier League
Going into the final day of the 11/12 Premier League season, title favourites Manchester United and Manchester City were battling it out for the big prize. The Red and Blue sides of Manchester headed in to their last game tied on 86 points, a whopping 19 points clear of 3rd placed Arsenal.
However Man City had a superior goal difference to the tune of 8 goals, and so all they had to do was match the result of their cross town rivals to ensure victory.
Things looked good for City, at home at the Etihad stadium to relegation strugglers QPR, while United had a trip to Sunderland who stood 11th in the table and had nothing to play for on the day.
How the Day Played Out
Both games started at 3 pm and it was United who took the early advantage; Wayne Rooney put them ahead after just 20 minutes and City fans’ hearts began to sink as they couldn’t find an early way through QPR. So close to a first ever Championship, but now so far.
However the breakthrough came from an unlikely source in Pablo Zabaleta in the 39th who’s deft strike put City ahead in the tie, and crucially, back ahead in the table.
They get to enjoy their lead during the half-time break, but not for much longer as Joleon Lescott attempts a crazy back header that puts Cisse in for an easy finish against Joe Hart. All that City had worked for in the first half had been erased.
Soon after Joey Barton loses his mind and gets a straight red card handing a lifeline to City. They duly hand that lifeline back when Jamie Mackie puts QPR in front on 66 minutes.
It’s becoming clear that only a win will do, and with 24 minutes left, they trail QPR and the dream looks to be all but over. The dream really is only a dream when the clock ticks past the 90 minute mark with the scoreline unchanged. Those who bet on United at 2/1 at the start of the season are starting to breathe easy. Those who thought City were worth a punt at 4/1 were getting ready to tell their hard luck tale.
But wait! Dzeko hasn’t given up yet and he heads home a David Silva corner in the 92nd minute. The referee has signalled that there will be a total of 95 minutes to be played, so there’s some football left in this game yet.
City are throwing everything they have at QPR, including the kitchen sink. Irishman Paddy Kenny has had a great day in the QPR goal, but can he hang on?
Well, let’s let Martin Tyler take over here…
And that was it. Man United were left walking around the pitch at Sunderland, slowly coming to the realisation that despite winning at Sunderland, they’d lost the title, while the Blue side of Manchester took ownership of the bragging rights, for a year anyway. There were plenty of betslips destroyed by the Aguero goal, no doubt.
More Betslip Killers:
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Betslip Killers: 1999 Open Championship
Betslip Killers: Aguero Steals it at the Death
Betslip Killers: Manchester United Champions League 1999
