Numbers Game

By Julius Ross

Like most sports, football is a game of numbers.

It is played over a period of two 45-minute halves plus a designated number of added minutes, between 22 players.

A numbered score defines the winner and loser of the game, or whether teams share the spoils.

Three points are awarded to the winner, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.

Get the picture? Numbers have significance in football. Period.

So its no surprise that after 31 rounds of the English Premier League, that several numbers have significance in football’s most popular league.

But it is the number 92 that may yet prove to be of special significance in this year’s English Premier League title race, for more than one reason.

When title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United both won their respective clashes on the weekend in late and dramatic fashion, the number 92 stood out.

Yossi Benayoun’s 92nd minute strike sparked scenes of jubilant celebration as Liverpool continued its hot pursuit of United to temporarily go top of the Premier League by defeating a stubborn Fulham 1-0.

The magnitude of the late winner was reflected by the Israeli international’s emotional celebrations, which were mirrored on the Liverpool bench where Rafa Benitez – for the first time this season – broke his traditionally stagnant goal celebrations to punch the air in ecstasy.

The dramatic late winner in the 92nd minute of Liverpool’s clash with Fulham has maintained the Reds ferocious form which has pushed Manchester United’s grip on a third successive title to breaking point.

If the Reds do manage to pip United of their third successive title, they will point to this 92nd minute goal as a turning point in their season.

It will be the first time England’s most successful club will lift the English Premier League trophy since the competition’s inaugural season in '92.

Less than 24 hours later, United had the chance to leap-frog Liverpool into top spot with a win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

After a titanic tussle with the Villains, in which a Cristiano Ronaldo brace was cancelled out by strikes from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, 17-year-old debutant Frederico Macheda curled a magnificent shot past former Liverpool ‘keeper Brad Friedel for a 3-2 win.

The goal came in the 92nd minute.

Scenes at Old Trafford bettered those seen a day earlier at Craven Cottage, with 75,000 Red Devils’ fans jumping in delirium as the net bludged in the closing stages.

Nails had been bitten prior, but Macheda’s dream goal had the Theatre of Dreams rocking.

While the number 92 may have been a significant number in two must-win matches for the two title aspirants, there is one final twist that this number offers in this years’ race for the Premier League trophy.

United currently sit on top of the table on 68 points, one ahead of Liverpool but with a game in hand.

The triumphant team in the remaining eight matches will be decided by whether Manchester can hold their mettle under the pressure from Liverpool and win all their remaining matches.

If United win all their final eight matches and gain a maximum of 24 points, they will finish on a nice total of – you guessed it – 92 points.