The golden goal or golden point is a rule used in association football, bandy, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, floorball and korfball to decide the winner of a match (typically a knock-out match) in which scores are equal at the end of normal time. It is a type of sudden death. Under this rule, the game will end when a goal or point is scored; the team that scores that goal or point during extra time will be the winner. Introduced formally in 1992, though with some history before that, the rule ceased to apply to most FIFA-authorized football games in 2004. Here we look at Matches that were decided on the Golden goal rule.
Italy v France – Euro 2000
It was the Euro 2000 final between Italy and France at the Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands on July 2, 2000. Marco Delvecchio had given Italy the lead in the 55th minute and it remained 1-0 to the Azzurri until the final minute of injury time when Sylvain Wiltord found the net with a low drive past Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
The match went into extra-time where David Trezeguet received a cut-back pass from Robert Pires and smashed the ball into the roof of the net to crown France European champions.
France v Portugal – Euro 2000
France’s road to the final in the European Championships in 2000 was replete with dramatic events and one such instance occurred in the semi-finals against Portugal. Nuno Gomes had given Portugal a 1-0 lead on 19 minutes in the semi-finals but six minutes into the second session Thierry Henry restored parity.
The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and went into injury-time. With just four or so minutes of extra-time remaining, les Bleus were awarded a penalty after Abel Xavier was adjudged to have handled a Sylvain Wiltord shot. Zidane stepped up and successfully converted the spot-kick, firing his nation to the final.
South Korea v Italy, 2002 World Cup
The 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea will forever be remembered as a competition littered with controversy and poor officiating. However, the last 16 game between South Korea and Italy will be remembered for a Golden Goal too. A Christian Vieri strike in the 18th minute for the Azzurri was cancelled out by Korea’s Seol Ki-Hyeon just two minutes before normal time and then with three minutes of extra-time period remaining, Ahn Jung-Hwan found the target to win the match 2-1 for the Koreans.
Sweden v Senegal, 2002 World Cup
Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the Word Cup finals in 2002 in dramatic fashion and by playing some lovely football too. The Africans took on Sweden in the Round of 16 but went behind 1-0 to a Henrik Larsson goal as early as the 11th minute. However, Henri Camara made it 1-1 on 37 minutes and the match eventually finished 1-1 after 90. Again, it was Camara who struck and this time it was a Golden Goal scored just a minute before half-time in the extra-time period.
Senegal v Turkey, 2002 World Cup
What goes around, comes around. Senegal defeated Sweden by a Golden Goal in the second round but lost the same way to Turkey in a similar fashion in the quarter-finals. It had finished 0-0 between the two sides after 90 minutes and then in the fourth minute of extra-time striker Ilhan Mansız found the net for the Turks to send them through to the semis.
Liverpool v Deportivo Alaves, 2001 UEFA Cup
The 2001 UEFA Cup final between Premier League giants Liverpool and modest Spanish side Deportivo Alaves was one of the most dramatic and exciting final matches in any competition of all time. The see-saw battle went into extra-time when Jordi Cruyff found the net for Alaves in the 89th minute to make 4-4 after normal time. With the match seemingly looking to head into penalties, Delfi Geli scored an unfortunate own goal to hand the game to Liverpool.
