For three successive matches, Chris Wilder’s Boro have secured victory with a stoppage-time winner. Here we look back at some of our other favourite last-gasp goals of the Riverside era, all of which were netted beyond the 90-minute mark.
Boro 2 Charlton 1 - August 1997
Fabrizio Ravanelli was far from a happy camper as recently-relegated Boro went into the opening day of the season against Charlton, but after compatriot Gianluca Festa had cancelled out Steve Jones’ first-half opener with 80 on the clock, the White Feather demonstrated his qualities with a stoppage time winner. Boro would go on to earn promotion that season, but with Ravanelli far away in Marseille.
Boro 4 Bolton Wanderers 3 - March 2006
Stuart Parnaby was Boro’s unlikely hero in this topsy-turvy clash with the Trotters at the Riverside. The visitors had led early through Greek forward Stelios Giannakopoulos, but a goal from Mark Viduka sandwiched between two for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink put Boro firmly in control. Bolton hit back, though, through Jay Jay Okocha and Radhi Jaidi, and it took an effort from Parnaby in the dying embers to see off their resistance.
Boro 4 FC Basel 1 (agg. 4-3) - April 2006
This UEFA Cup quarter-final tie was settled by what perhaps Boro’s most iconic late goal - if not for another from the same player a few weeks later! Massimo Maccarone wrote his name into Boro folklore by completing the most unlikely turnaround with the fourth goal in a 4-3 aggregate win at the Riverside. Remarkably, Maccarone was Boro’s saviour again as history repeated itself in the semi-final against Steaua Bucharest - and though it doesn’t quite meet our 90+ criteria here (the Italian forward this time heading home Boro’s winner in the 89th minute), it was an equally magical moment for the club as we reached our maiden European final.
Boro 1 Hull City 0 - March 2016
The first of three late wins in the space of the month that were as dramatic as they were vital. It had been a turbulent time for Boro, not helped by three defeats in the previous four games, but Nugent rose to the task to ensure Boro got back to winning ways, glancing home Albert Adomah’s cross to take all three points.
Boro 2 Reading 1 - April 2016
Some penalty box pinball led to one of the most slapstick Boro goals in memory, but they all count! Adam Forshaw was the man to provide it, and he was duly sent a bouquet of flowers in the days that followed from a grateful, but sadly anonymous fan. As BBC Tees commentator Mark Drury described, there was ‘delirium, pandemonium at the Riverside’ as the home crowd celebrated our success.
Bolton Wanderers 1 Boro 2 - April 2016
A matter of days after Boro’s heart-in-the-mouth victory over Reading, our supporters’ nerves were shredded again as Aitor Karanka’s side left it late to topple already-relegated Bolton. This time, Jordan Rhodes was the man to step up to the plate, first cancelling out Josh Vela’s opener for the hosts before heading in a winner in time added on.
Manchester City 1 Boro 1 - November 2016
One of the highlights of Boro’s ill-fated last campaign in the Premier League was Marten de Roon’s late leveller at the Etihad Stadium. It was a backs-to-the-wall job For Boro for long periods against Pep Guardiola’s side, but Dutch international De Roon slammed home a header from George Friend’s cross to snatch a point, to the delight of the travelling fans.
Boro 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 - August 2018
An excellent start to the season under Tony Pulis continued as Daniel Ayala swept home the only goal of this game in added time. Boro had dominated the Baggies and deserved victory, but it was only secured when the Spanish defender turned in a deep free-kick at the last - a goal that would send the unbeaten Teessiders top.