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Five… Finest Premier League Matches Of The Season
It has been a terrific year of Premier League football.
A thrilling title race and a ferocious battle to avoid the drop kept onlookers fascinated until the final minutes of the campaign. And in the midst of all the excitement came a host of high-scoring, memorable matches. Footballing World pick out the top five from the 2007/08 season.
1. Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Early season excitement as Portsmouth run riot against a Reading side seemingly incapable of defending. The drama was reserved for the second half as an incredible eight goals were scored along with a missed penalty; Benjani netting a hat-trick as nine different players got their name on the score-sheet in a match that set a new Premier League record for the most aggregate goals scored in a single match. Sadly, it proved an exceptional afternoon for the home side and their supporters: Pompey finished the season failing to score in 10 of their 19 home games.
Portsmouth goals: Mwaruwari 7, 37, 70, Hreidarsson 55, Kranjcar 75, Davis 81, Muntari 90 pen.
Reading goals: Hunt 45, Kitson 48, Long 79, Shorey 90.
2. Tottenham 4-4 Chelsea
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
These two London sides provided various classic encounters against fellow Premier League sides during the season, but they managed something even better when they met in late March. A bustling, high-octane clash ended with Robbie Keane’s stunning late equaliser to earn the hosts a point, just weeks after they had beaten Chelsea in the Carling Cup final. Three goals in the opening 20 minutes set the tempo, but Tottenham left the happier after coming from 3-1 and 4-3 down to rescue a point while helping to ruin Chelsea’s title ambitions, who added to their poor reputation when Ashley Cole threw a tantrum after receiving a yellow card for a challenge that deserved red.
Tottenham goals: Woodgate 12, Berbatov 61, Huddlestone 75, Keane 88.
Chelsea goals: Drogba 3, Essien 20, Joe Cole 52, 80.
3. Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Chelsea remain a largely uninspiring side with less attacking intent than any of their fellow top four members, but a wobbly defence ensured a fantastic post-Christmas treat against Aston Villa. The match was a perfect remedy for those Boxing Day ills, and the visitors could have ended Chelsea’s 71-game unbeaten home league sequence following an excellent first-half display. Shaun Maloney put them two goals up but the game changed on the stroke of half-time when Zat Knight conceded a penalty and was sent-off, Andriy Shevchenko reducing the arrears. The Ukrainian added a second before defender Alex turned the game completely on its head to give Chelsea the lead for the first time.
Yet the drama had only just begun. Martin Laursen powered in an equaliser and Ricardo Carvalho was then dismissed for a horror challenge to leave the game perfectly poised. As a share of the spoils appeared inevitable, Michael Ballack scored a terrific free-kick two minutes from time and the Chelsea fans celebrated jubilantly. But their joy was cut short when the assistant referee flagged for a handball by Ashley Cole after appeals from the Villa players, meaning a third red card and second penalty of the game. Gareth Barry coolly converted to earn a deserved point.
Chelsea goals: Shevchenko 45 pen, 50, Alex 66, Ballack 88.
Aston Villa goals: Maloney 14, 44, Laursen 72, Barry 90 pen.
4. Tottenham 6-4 Reading
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Haven’t we seen these teams before? Sadly, it was another defeat for Reading in a game where the total number of goals reached double figures as Tottenham edged a classic just three days after Chelsea’s fabulous draw with Aston Villa. The home side had netted five past Fulham on Boxing Day and were clearly on a mission to excite as eight second-half goals were scored.
1-1 at the break, Ingimarsson and Berbatov cancelled each other out to make it 2-2 before six goals were scored in just 15 minutes – at a rate of one every 150 seconds. Reading moved in front for the second time through Kitson but Berbatov notched his hat-trick to tie the scores once again. Yet within a few seconds of the restart, the visitors scored once more - Kitson again - but their defence clearly had the Portsmouth game in mind as Malbranque made it four each less than two minutes later. Reading stopped at four but Spurs’ appetite was solid: Defoe’s controversial goal proved crucial and Berbatov netted his fourth to seal the points as numerous ambulances arrived to treat coronaries across White Hart Lane.
Tottenham goals: Berbatov 7, 63, 73, 83, Malbranque 76, Defoe 79.
Reading goals: Cisse 16, Ingimarsson 53, Kitson 69, 74.
5. Manchester City 2-3 Fulham
Saturday, 26 April 2008
A match that not only comprised a great comeback from a side who seemingly couldn’t perform away from home, but was hugely significant in the greatest escape from relegation in Premier League history. Fulham were mathematically relegated at around 4.05pm: 2-0 down to Eriksson’s side, after goals from Ireland - a stunning curling effort - and Benjani - following a super pass from Elano - and with Birmingham and Bolton winning, Roy Hodgson’s side were heading for the Championship. However, slack defending and a renewed charge from the Londoners saw them score thrice in the final twenty minutes. Kamara pulled one back, Murphy saw his penalty saved but scored the follow-up and, deep into stoppage time with victory fundamental for any lingering hopes of survival, Kamara burst through the defence and scored a stunning winner.
Man City goals: Ireland 10, Mwaruwari 21.
Fulham goals: Kamara 70, 90+2, Murphy 79.
The best of the rest…
Fulham 3-3 Man City; Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd; Tottenham 4-4 Aston Villa; Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Do you agree with the selections? Leave your views in the comments section below.
Tags: Avram Grant, Harry Redknapp, Juande Ramos, Martin O'Neill, Roy Hodgson, Steve Coppell, Sven-Goran Eriksson 
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what about spurs 4-4 with villa. considering we were losing 4-1 at the time, and infront of owl heros
For me, Villa 5-1 against Birmingham was pretty sweet. But what about Boro smashing Man City 8-1…! I enjoyed that match.
the best games are always the ones that go right to the wire, im talking 90+ min goals.
they really get the adrenaline pumping!!
the Spurs chelsea and the spurs villa games both went to the dying seconds.
In my view chelsea spurs was the game of the season.
for me it has to be spurs 5 arsenal 1 i was at that match and the atmosphere was phenomenal and to go so long without beating the skum it has to be up there
As a Villa fan, I was gutted about the Spurs game, but it was a deserved and spirited come back, and was definitely one of the games of the season. But it just goes to show you what a fantastic season it has been when there are so many games that are in contention for the top spots. However, and I admit I’m biased, but I still can’t see how any game this season was better than Villa’s 4v4 draw with Chelsea. What a game that was! It had absolutely everything football has to offer, pressure penalties, great goals, red cards, contentious decisions, and attack after attack after attack. It was absolutely mindblowing, and even the sky sports commentators were having fits of apoplexy over that one!
its gotta be tottenham 4-4 chelsea, bein 3-1 and 4-3 down to chelsea its amazin to come back and get a draw and dont forget in the dyin seconds berba could hav won it but cudicini made a good save.
Good matches are not always about Goals..
Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd was fantastic. As was Bolton 2-3 Arsenal.
For skill and excitement the game of the season has to be Spurs v Chel$ki it was edge of the seat stuff from the first to the last whistle, the only thing that let us Spurs fans down was Berbatov not scoring the winner at the end.
Other than Spurs the game that I liked best was Fulham V Man. City I love going to Craven Cottage as it is a great atmosphere when we visit, so well done Fulham for staying up, of course with so many Spurs connections in thier team that helped a lot COYS