Chicharito joins Macheda and Steve Bruce as a Manchester United hero with late, great winner in title race

ANALYSIS
By Steven Saunders

For Manchester United fans, it has become a title-winning ritual. For their rivals, it has become a daunting inevitability.

As time ticked down in their match against Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday with the score remaining goalless, the feeling grew that we were about to witness yet another late, great winner from the Premier League leaders.

And it duly arrived on 84 minutes, when a deflected Antonio Valencia cross looped perfectly for Javier Hernandez to leap and head beyond Tim Howard in the Everton goal. 1-0, game over – and the title race too?

From Steve Bruce to Federico Macheda, there have emerged unlikely heroes with late goals that ensure United get over the line and lift the Premier League title.

Goal.com recounts the best of the best from Sir Alex Ferguson’s men since 1993…

1993 – Steve Bruce v Sheffield Wednesday

Date: April 10

Games to play: Six

Situation: 1-0 down with four minutes to play

Result: 2-1 victory

League position afterwards: Top by one point over Aston Villa

Drama rating:

The original and still arguably the best. The now Sunderland manager was not exactly prolific as a player but popped up with two headers in the final four minutes at Old Trafford to have Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Brian Kidd leaping around the turf. United would go on to end a 25-year wait to be English champions.

1996 – Roy Keane v Leeds United

Date: April 17

Games to play: Three

Situation: 0-0 with 18 minutes to play

Result: 1-0 victory

League position afterwards: Top by three points over Newcastle

Drama rating:

A determined Leeds United performance was frustrating their hosts until Roy Keane’s low strike from the edge of the box whistled into the bottom corner. It followed just 11 days after Ryan Giggs had struck a 77th-minute winner against Manchester City for another vital three points.

1997 – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer v Middlesbrough

Date: May 5

Games to play: Three

Situation: 1-0 and 3-1 down in the first half

Result: 3-3 draw

League position: Top by four points over Liverpool

Drama rating:

United were already firmly on course for the title but found themselves struggling at home to a Juninho-inspired Middlesbrough, who were battling against relegation. A rare goal from Gary Neville gave them hope, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equalised midway through the second half. Liverpool’s defeat at Wimbledon the following day crowned United champions.

2007 – Wayne Rooney v Everton

Date: April 28

Games to play: Four

Situation: 2-0 down after 50 minutes

Result: 4-2 victory

League position: Top by five points over Chelsea

Drama rating:

It looked as though Chelsea were going to be handed a title lifeline as Everton raced into a 2-0 lead at Goodison Park. But an incredible four-goal burst in the final 29 minutes was given its signature moment when Wayne Rooney scored against his former club to make it 3-2 with 11 minutes to go. Chris Eagles completed the comeback in injury time.

2008 – Carlos Tevez v Blackburn

Date: April 19

Games to play: Four

Situation: 1-0 down with two minutes to play

Result: 1-1 draw

League position: Top by three points over Chelsea

Drama rating:

Every point counts when it gets to the tail-end of the season, and Carlos Tevez’s 88th-minute equaliser at Ewood Park kept United’s noses in front of Avram Grant’s Chelsea. Ferguson’s side were eventually crowned champions with a two-point advantage – then beat Chelsea on penalties in the Champions League final.

2009 – Federico Macheda v Aston Villa

Date: April 5

Games to play: Nine

Situation: 2-1 down with 10 minutes to play

Result: 3-2 victory

League position afterwards: Top by one point over Liverpool

Drama rating:

United were locked in a torrid title race with bitter rivals Liverpool and surrendered an early advantage against Villa to trail 2-1. Cristiano Ronaldo struck an equaliser before an onslaught for a winner in the closing stages saw 17-year-old Federico Macheda curl home a glorious winner for his first goal for the club deep in stoppage time.

2011 – Javier Hernandez v Everton

Date: April 23

Games to play: Five

Situation: 0-0 with seven minutes to play

Result: 1-0

League position afterwards: Top by nine points over Chelsea and Arsenal

Drama rating:

And so to this weekend, with Chicharito in the right place at the right time once again in his debut season. Is it the moment that seals United as champions?