Five of the best stoppage-time goals in Impact history
Stoppage time is quite a peculiar notion. In most sports, once the clock runs out, the clock runs out; in hockey, for example, referees sometimes need to count the milliseconds at the end of games, as the losing teams sometimes insist they do.
But things are different in soccer. Once each half finishes, the referee determines how many extra minutes should be added on to the game; soccer, unlike other sports, has a clock that never stops. A player can be hunched over in pain in the middle of the field and yet the clock still will not stop. So, these extra minutes are necessary, if not peculiar.
What they have done over the years, however, is led to some of the most dramatic moments this game has ever seen. Who can forget Manchester City’s stoppage-time “goal” against Tottenham in the quarterfinals of last year’s Champions League, a goal that sent Pep Guardiola to his knees, and a goal that would’ve sent Manchester to the semifinals? But then VAR came calling, and it was taken all away.
All of this drama happened in those few extra stoppage time minutes. There’s just something about getting past the 90-minute mark that gets your blood flowing.
The Impact is no exception, having lived a few of those moments themselves over the years. Here are five of the best stoppage time moments in Impact history:
Didier Drogba
LA Galaxy
May 28, 2016
We start with a classic, in a game that will be available tonight as of 7:30pm on impactmontreal.com. After an electric game between these sides that seemed destined to end in a draw, Drogba came up huge with literally no time remaining, slotting in his free kick.
Yes, the opposing goalkeeper dropped the ball (literally), but when you’re Didier Drogba, things just have a way of working out sometimes.
Anthony Jackson-Hamel
Atlanta United
April 15, 2017
In Atlanta United’s first ever loss on opposing soil, it was Impact striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel who netted the winner with almost no time remaining. And what a goal it was.
In a true show of skill, and with a smidge of luck, the Academy product was able to deflect an attempted shot off the post and into the back of the net, handing the Impact its first win of the season in the most dramatic way possible.
Daniel Lovitz
Chicago Fire
August 18, 2019
No one ever forgets their first professional goal, no matter how ugly it was. Former Impact full-back Daniel Lovitz, on his end, is no exception to the rule. Except his goal was a stunner, scored with a volley from outside the box, with his weak foot, and to top it all off, it handed the Impact a win in the 91st minute of play.
Blake Smith
Sporting Kansas City
July 27, 2013
The Impact faithful at Stade Saputo on this memorable night had to wait until the 96th minute to see the game’s first goal, but it was well worth it.
But the play was just as nice as the finish. After Hassoun Camara beat his man on the flank, he passed in the middle to Bernier, who let the ball slide in between his legs to Di Vaio. The Italian then shuffled it over to Smith, who slotted it in between the goalkeeper’s legs.
Cameron Porter
Pachuca
March 3, 2015
Funnily enough, the most famous stoppage-time goal in Impact history didn’t even secure them a win, but instead a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the 2015 Concacag Champions League quarterfinal.
You all know it. I don’t need to explain the context. Here it is:
