Six of the best goals in League Cup finals

Time Stamp: February 26, 2022 3:00 AM

The big game this weekend sees Chelsea take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup final. Due to Manchester City’s recent dominance of the competition, Chelsea are looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2015, with the Reds’ most recent EFL Cup success coming three years prior.

While cup finals can be tight and tense, they often deliver spectacular memorable moments too. Here, we take a look at six of the best goals to have been scored in historic EFL Cup finals.

 

John Arne Riise – Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (AET), 2005

Sunday’s clash inevitably brings back memories of 2005’s five-goal thriller in Cardiff between the same two sides, with Chelsea celebrating after coming out on top during extra time.

The tone was set for a pulsating clash in the very first minute. Liverpool roared out of the blocks and determined work from Fernando Morientes in the right channel led to an opening, with the Spain striker winning back possession and standing up a deep cross to the back post.

Arriving unmarked was Riise with the Norwegian meeting the ball sweetly on the volley to send it flying beyond a helpless Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal. The Blues had the last laugh, though, thanks to strikes from Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman during the additional 30 minutes.

 

Robin van Persie – Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham City, 2011

Another volley makes the cut with a special strike from Van Persie drawing the Gunners level in the 2011 final. A classic counter initially saw Jack Wilshere’s 20-yard drive rattle the crossbar.

Andrey Arshavin kept the attack alive and crossed for Van Persie to swivel and smash home, cancelling out a surprise opener from Nikola Zigic at Wembley. Van Persie hurt himself in the process of scoring, however, and that proved crucial as Arsenal suffered a shock defeat.

Late substitute Obafemi Martins capitalised on an awful mix-up between Arsenal’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and centre-back Laurent Koscielny, finishing into an open goal in the last minute of normal time to secure one of the biggest upsets in EFL Cup final history.

 

Chris Nicholl – Aston Villa 3-2 Everton, 1977

The 1977 final needed three attempts to find a winner, with the second replay seeing Villa take the glory thanks to Brian Little’s late goal. But there is no doubting Nicholl’s sensational strike from long range was the most memorable moment of this classic EFL Cup final clash.

The centre-back collected the ball wide on the right, close to the halfway line, and advanced into space as Everton backed off. Nicholl needed no second invitation to fire at goal from 40 yards, with his low drive swerving out of reach of Toffees stopper David Lawson, who could only watch.

 

Dennis Tueart – Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United, 1976

Just a year earlier, another wondergoal had settled the 1976 showpiece for City. The final was poised at 1-1 after Peter Barnes’ strike for City was followed by a goal from Alan Gowling.

Tueart was a boyhood Newcastle fan but he broke Magpies’ hearts with a goal that will never be forgotten by the capacity crowd of 100,000 supporters who were inside Wembley that day.

From the right, Willie Donachie swung in a cross to the back post where Tommy Booth was in place to nod the ball back into the danger zone.

Tueart had his back to goal but threw himself into a technically perfect bicycle kick, connecting with his right foot to beat Newcastle goalkeeper Mike Mahoney and secure the cup for City.

 

Didier Drogba – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea (AET), 2008

Chelsea fans were left disappointed by the result of the 2008 EFL Cup final, but Drogba’s brilliant free-kick goes down as one of the finest goals scored at the then-new Wembley.

A central set piece 30 yards out left Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson unsure where to position his wall and Drogba took full advantage with a precise finish into the bottom corner.

Robbie Keane moving out of the wall provided a hole to hitfor Drogba, but there was no doubting the quality of the finish. It was Drogba’s fourth goal in EFL Cup finals, with the striker becoming the first player to find the net in the competition’s showpiece in three separate years.

Spurs came back to win it that year, though, with Dimitar Berbatov converting a penalty awarded for a Wayne Bridge handball before Jonathan Woodgate’s unfortunate own goal proved decisive in extra time. Chelsea fans will be hoping for a win, rather than a brilliant goal, this time out.

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