Everton vs. Manchester United - the most exciting finish of the year

I'm calling it now - this game will be the most dramatic finish that the English Premier League sees all year.  Hands down.

I'm spent.  My throat is sore from shouting.  My knuckles hurt from balling my fists.  I just went on an emotional roller coaster.

And the catch?  The game was a draw.  3 to 3.

Now American sports fan, you may ask yourself how a game that ended in a tie could be exciting.  Let me tell you about it.

So Everton came out with the first goal, a real snazzy rebound goal by the South African Pienaar (serious talent).  I shouted.  I nearly dropped my pot pie that I was eating.  It was pretty great.  But then, Man U responded with their own goal not four minutes later and the teams went to half tied at 1 apiece.  My elation plummeted to dejection.

Manchester came out and scored a second goal immediately in the second half.  I was feeling ill at this point.  And then to add insult to injury, a defensive lapse allowed Man U to score an easy third goal not long after.  And Tim Howard was playing a great game in goal for Everton.  In fact, there will be some year-end highlights that feature his saves from this game when the season comes to an end.  He played his heart out.

But Tim's great saves early couldn't save him from confused defensive schemes.  We were down 1-3 at the end of the 90 minutes.  We had lost another game - or at least that is what we had told ourselves.

But then the unthinkable happened.  Tim Cahill scored a spectacular goal in the 91st minute of extra time.  Officially, we only had 90 seconds left of playing time after the second goal.  Still, I was happy we'd finish a more respectable 2-3.

But the story didn't end there.  In a miracle that NOBODY saw coming, Everton stole a quick ball from Man U not a minute later and played it downfield where Cahill gave the headed assist to Arteta for the equalizer.  Manchester was stunned.  I think Sir Fergie crapped his pants.  Hell, my dog nearly did crap himself with my final, and most thunderous victory shout. 

It was magic.  Everton scored goals in the 91st and 93rd minutes.  It simply doesn't happen like that in real life folks.  And it certaintly doesn't happen against Manchester United.  But here I was, watching it happen right before my eyes.

It's games like this that make you proud to be a sports fan - simply for the fact that you were able to witness the human capacity for strength of will. 

Certain games stick with you for life.  I'll never forget how it felt when the US squad got railed in the World Cup and had that goal disallowed.  And I'll never forget when Everton opened the season last year and lost 1-6 to Arsenal after I'd waited such a long to see the team play again.  Likewise, I'll never forget the day we stuck it to the big boys in added time to steal the point in the greatest finish I've seen in a long time.