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Premier League
May 19, 2001 at 3pm UK
 
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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

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