Every once in a while, you see some footage that makes you remember just how much you bloody well love the game of football.
This, friends, is one of those pieces of footage.
It comes courtesy of Amiens, a team that – as recently as Friday night – would have been described as a French second division club.
In a quite incredible climax to the Ligue 2 season across the Channel, Amiens – who have never played in the French top flight – were one of six teams in the division that were separated by just three points.
Drawing 1-1 as the final seconds of stoppage time in their game with Stade de Reims ticked away, they were set to finish sixth – not even enough for them to make the end of season playoff match.
However, with the five minutes of added-on time up, the ball fell to Emmanuel Bourgaurd, whose well-struck shot found away beyond the Reims goalkeeper.
The goal was enough to catapult them into second place, *and* to clinch automatic promotion to the Ligue 1 for the first time in their 116-year history.
We challenge you to watch this without those tiny hairs on your arms standing up.
Amiens promoted to Ligue 1 with the last kick of the entire Ligue 2 season. Incredible. #Ligue2 pic.twitter.com/agfCI5jNqs
— David Sansun (@RFN_David) May 19, 2017
Amiens, along with Ligue 2 champions Strasbourg, have both sealed back-to-back promotions. Their late winner means that Troyes, the side finishing in third, must now play off against the team that finish in 18th in Ligue 1 after Saturday’s final round of fixtures.
