MX23RW : Tuesday, November 26 17:46:27| >> :60:2343:2343:
[monks data]
Southampton logo
Premier League
May 19, 2001 at 3pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

3-2

FT

On this day: Matt Le Tissier scores last goal at The Dell

Fourteen years ago today, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier scored the last ever goal at The Dell.

Throughout his long playing career with Southampton, Matt Le Tissier scored a whole host of jaw-droppingly good goals.

His long-range strike against Blackburn Rovers instantly comes to mind, while his fine individual effort against Newcastle United is also one that has been replayed on many occasions down the years.

However, there is a real case for suggesting that his most memorable goal for the Saints was scored 14 years ago today when Arsenal made the trip to The Dell on the last day of the 2000-01 Premier League campaign.

It was to be an emotional day on the South Coast due to the fact that it would be the last time that Southampton would ever turn out at their famous old ground, with their brand new facility - the St Mary's Stadium - ready for use.

Having played their home matches at the stadium in Milton Road since 1885, it would seem fitting if the club's best ever player were to have a big say on the final encounter to be held there and 'Le God' didn't disappoint.

Ashley Cole and Freddie Ljunberg had twice given the visiting Gunners the lead, but Southampton's Hassan Kachloul pegged them back on both occasions.

It seemed that the encounter was going to end in a 2-2 draw, but Le Tissier, who was a 74th-minute replacement for Kevin Davies, had other ideas.

In the final minute of the game, James Beattie got up above Arsenal centre-back Tony Adams to meet a long punt forward from Saints goalkeeper Paul Jones.

The ball dropped for Le Tissier inside the area and when Martin Keown failed to clear the danger, the Saints legend managed to wrap his left foot around the ball to send a rasping half-volley beyond the reach of a diving Alex Manninger in the away goal.

It was a match-winning impact that saw The Dell erupt for the final time, with Le Tissier being mobbed by his ecstatic teammates.

"It's very special to score the last goal and I couldn't have imagined a better ending. But I don't see why I can't score the first goal at the new stadium as well," he said after the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Saints manager Stuart Gray added: "It was very fitting for Matt Le Tissier to score the final goal in The Dell. He has proved once again that he can still do damage."

Le Tissier did go on to play one more season for the Saints, but injuries limited his number of appearances and also prevented him from scoring at the new ground.

Southampton: Jones; Monk (El Khalej), Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge; Tessem, Marsden, Kachloul (Benali); Pahars, Davies (Le Tissier), Beattie

Arsenal: Manninger; Grimandi, Keown, Adams, Cole; Pires, Vieira, Parlour, Ljungberg; Henry, Bergkamp

ID:222419: cacheID:222419:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4992:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Former Arsenal player Thierry Henry warms up during a training session at London Colney on November 25, 2013
Read Next:
OTD: Arsenal gun down Spurs
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Ravens
30-23
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!