Most memorable matches of 2010

The All Whites, All Black and Silver Ferns all pulled off memorable results in 2010.

1- All Whites 1 Italy 1
Most memorable of the year? Try most memorable of the century as a generation will never forget the day the All Whites caused one of the biggest shocks in the history of the soccer World Cup. The Great Dane sized underdogs took an upset lead against a team ranked 73 places ahead of them in just the seventh minute when Shane Smeltz got onto the end of a Simon Elliott free-kick.

The defending champions replied with a controversial penalty when Daniele Di Rossi went down in the box on the back of some Tommy Smith heavy breathing and Vincenzo Iaquinta made it 1-1. From there Italy were expected to put a few more into the back of the net but the All Whites defence held strong, helped by goalkeeper Mark Paston who had an outstanding game. Chris Wood almost snatched a win when he beat world-class defender Fabio Cannavaro and fired a shot that just went wide of the goal.

An upset win wasn't to be but a 1-1 draw was enough of a miracle for a country with just 25 professional players against the four time world champions.

2 - Silver Ferns 66 Australia 64
When it comes to New Zealand vs Australia in netball you're always going to get a memorable encounter but the two sides took their rivalry to a new level in the Commonwealth Games gold medal match. What progressed was 90 minutes of end-to-end drama in Delhi as New Zealand looked to have the game won with five minutes remaining before Australia came back from seven goals down to tie it up at fulltime.

The match then went into a seemingly never-ending extra-time where a gold medal rested on every pass and shot. After two periods of overtime, something that workers in Delhi had been getting used to in the weeks before the Games, the match went into sudden-death where the first team to take a two goal advantage would win the gold. Up stepped Maria Tutaia who was cool under pressure in sudden-death to sink the winning shot and break Australian hearts. The perfect Kiwi ending to the Commonwealth Games.

3 - Kiwis 16 Kangaroos 12
Lightening struck twice, history repeated and it was déjà-vu all over again. All the clichés come out when the Kiwis repeated their World Cup victory over the Kangaroos in Brisbane two years ago with a drama filled ending to the Four Nations tournament.

The match had everything: bone crunching hits, punches thrown, a try scored from a foot in touch, another from a potential forward pass, heart-breaking footage of Brent Tate in tears after receiving news of potential career-ending knee surgery, all capped off by a magical ending sparked by Benji Marshall. With time almost up and the Kiwis trailing by two points, Marshall began a long-range attack that sent Jason Nightingale down the right hand touch. The Kiwis winger sent a suspect pass back in-field over the back-peddling Kangaroos' defenders which was picked up by Marshall who then threw an over-the-head assist to Nathan Fien for the match-winning try. Heart in your mouth, edge of your seat, one for the ages.

4 - All Blacks 29 South Africa 22
The match that defined 2010 as one of the All Blacks' best seasons ever. After a Tri Nations start that included three home wins and victory against the Wallabies in Melbourne, the true test for this year's All Blacks was how they would do in the white-hot atmosphere of 94,000 fans at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

The All Blacks' 14th straight win looked unlikely after Dan Carter missed a penalty from a handy position while trailing 22-17 with eight minutes remaining but Richie McCaw tied the match up a few minutes later with a controversial try. Then with time almost up Ma'a Nonu broke up the middle of the field from New Zealand's own half, ran through a tackle of South African skipper John Smit, playing in his 100th test, and found substitute Israel Dagg out wide who crossed the line in the 80th minute to give New Zealand a famous win.

5 - John Isner 70 Nicolas Mahut 68
We had to check the Wimbledon website to see if this game is still going. In June the newly constructed centre court at the famous tennis venue was overshadowed by court 18 for three days and over 11 hours of action as American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut took part in a famous match that will most likely never be repeated. The pair fought over an unforgettable fifth setter that totalled 183 games as Isner triumphed in the first round match 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68.

The mammoth fifth set lasted 8 hours, 11 minutes and forced the match to be suspended on successive nights due to poor light. On the third day the fifth set resumed at 59-all and continued for 20 games and 65 minutes before Isner earned a spot into the second round finishing the longest match in history, smashing the previous record by more than five hours. Isner then lost his second round clash in straight sets.

6 - Roosters 19 West Tigers 15
Another game that went on and wouldn't end, all because the Wests Tigers couldn't complete one of the basic plays in rugby league. With time almost up on the clock the Tigers had a scrum inside their own half and just needed to play out a few tackles and then enjoy a week off before a home preliminary final. Instead they lost possession from the base of the scrum, a rare feat in league, as Chris Heighington failed to simply fall on the ball. With the clock running down Roosters skipper Braith Anasta put the game into golden point extra-time with a perfectly slotted drop goal.

After almost 20 minutes of extra-time Kiwis centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercepted a pass by Liam Fulton and sprinted 60 metres for the match winner in the 100th minute. It capped off a brilliant comeback from the Roosters, who eventually when onto make the Grand Final, after trailing 15-2 midway through the second half.

7 - Southland 9 Auckland 6
Not a match that Auckland rugby fans would like to recall but it was a game for rugby purists as horrible conditions, which had wrecked havoc in the deep south in the days leading up to the Ranfurly Shield match, dictated terms and led to good old fashioned game of rugby with not a four-try bonus point in sight. Neither side crossed the line once as Southland's defence held on desperately to deny an Auckland side that dominated possession.

The men from the north spent almost 20 minutes inside Southland's 22 but the home side put up a wall of defence led by captain Jason Rutledge. Robbie Robinson rewarded his side's defensive efforts by kicking the match winning penalty with 10 minutes remaining as Southland recorded only their eighth victory against Auckland from 51 attempts, and their first in 39 years. The most important stat though, they still had the Shield.

8 - All Blacks 23 Wallabies 22
Following their comeback win in Soweto the All Blacks were at it again three weeks later when they extended their streak of victories over rivals Australia to 10 in dramatic style. Trailing 22-9 with 20 minutes remaining the Australian legs began to tire following back-to-back games in South Africa and the All Blacks took full advantage.

First captain Richie McCaw scored from a borderline legal scrum move, or illegal depending which side of the Tasman you live, before Kieran Read dived over for the match-winner with seven minutes remaining to give the All Blacks a perfect Tri Nations record in 2010. Robbie Deans was left to think what he'd need to do to get one over his home nation but he didn't have to think too long as the Wallabies exacted revenge in Hong Kong to end New Zealand's perfect season.

9 - Black Caps beat Australia by two wickets
The Black Caps have only won a handful of ODI games in 2010 but this one will be remembered for a long time. Chasing 276 to win the opening match of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy series at Napier's McLean Park, the Black Caps' chances of victory looked slim at 207/6 in the 42nd over. Enter Scott Styris who smashed 49 runs from 34 balls and even found time to bash heads with Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson as the pair exchanged words in the middle of the pitch. Shane Bond pitched in with a few boundaries towards the end before Styris ended the match in the best possible fashion with a towering six over the head of Doug Bollinger giving the Black Caps a two wicket win with four balls remaining.

It was a perfect start to the series but sadly, like the Black Caps' season, it only went downhill from there as the Aussies won the next three games to take out the series.

10 - New Orleans Saints 31 Indianapolis Colts 17
Four and a half years after Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, sending two thirds of the population into exile, the Saints gave the city something to cheer about winning their first Super Bowl with victory over the much-favoured Colts. Despite the scoreline the game actually came down to the final minutes with Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning driving up the field, looking to send the game into overtime.

The four-time NFL MVP however threw a pass into the hands of New Orleans' cornerback Tracy Porter who ran in a touchdown to secure the NFL championship and a dream run for the Saints. New Orleans, a city known for throwing a party or two, finally had something to celebrate after undergoing so much heartbreak four years earlier.

Honourable mentions:
All Whites 1 Slovakia 1
Germany 4 England 1
Warriors 20 Roosters 18
Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0

- Herald online