Verstappen’s F1 title, Man Utd 99, Arsenal 89 & greatest ever sporting endings

FT Desk

• Updated: 12 Dec 2021 16:01 GMT
• 5 min read

Max Verstappen has beaten Lewis Hamilton to the Formula 1 title after the most dramatic ending in the history of the sport.

Verstappen controversially overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi to win the championship for the first time in his career.

Both Red Bull Racing driver Verstappen and Mercedes' Hamilton started the day level on points, so whoever finished ahead in Abu Dhabi would take the title.

Hamilton had seemed certain to win the race but with just four laps left, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed, meaning a safety car was called out.

The race restarted on the last lap and, with Verstappen allowed to start virtually alongside Hamilton, he overtook the seven-time championship with just a number of turns remaining.

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Here are five other dramatic sporting endings from the past.

Arsenal’s 1989 league title

The final day of the 1988-89 English Football League Division 1 season saw the top two teams – Liverpool and Arsenal – face off at Anfield.

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Liverpool were three points ahead of Arsenal going into the match, with the Gunners needing to win by two clear goals to snatch the trophy.

Arsenal took the lead on 53 minutes through Alan Smith but as the match moved into injury time it seemed as if Liverpool were going to hold on.

Then, with just seconds remaining, Michael Thomas prodded home a second goal to give Arsenal their first league title in 18 years. It was the most unbelievable ending in English football history.

Man Utd’s 1999 Champions League victory

Bayern Munich were coasting to victory in the 1999 Champions League final against Man Utd in Barcelona.

There were leading 1-0 through Mario Basler’s free-kick and had controlled most of the game.

Then, in stoppage time (or ‘Fergie Time’), Man Utd dramatically scored not once but twice from corner kicks. First Teddy Sheringham swept home from close range before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prodded in the winner. It was United’s first European Cup for 21 years.

1985 World Snooker Championship Final

Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor played out the most epic world snooker final in Sheffield in 1985.

The best of 35 frame final was locked at 17-17 and incredibly went all the way down to the final black ball to decide who won the title.

After both players missed nervously, Taylor eventually potted the black ball and raised his cue to the skies.

The match finished past midnight and was watched by over 18 million people in the UK, over a third of the population.

2003 Rugby Union World Cup Final

The two bitter sporting rivals faced off in the final of the 2003 World Cup in Sydney.

The match was very close and scrappy throughout and went into extra time.

But then, with just seconds to go, Johnny Wilkinson executed a brilliant drop-kick to give England a 20-17 victory and their first-ever World Cup triumph.

78th Iron Bowl Final

In what was the most dramatic ending in the history of College Football in 2013, rivals Alabama and Auburn had been tied at 28-28 with just moments remaining of the 78th Iron Bowl.

Alabama attempted a long field goal from midfield to win the match but the kick was just short. It was fielded by Auburn’s Chris Davis from under his crossbar and he embarked on an incredible 109-yard return touchdown to win the title.