Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (April 21st) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers
On this day in 2013 - Suarez bit Ivanovic
The incident occurred in the second half of Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Anfield on 21 April 2013.
Blues defender Ivanovic complained to referee Kevin Friend that he had been bitten on his right arm by Suarez after their clash inside the Chelsea penalty area.
He apologised after the match: 'I've spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him, thanks for accepting.' In an earlier statement, he said: "I apologise to my manager and everyone at Liverpool for letting them down." But he still got a 10-game ban.
The Uruguayan international, who signed for the Reds in January 2011, had been given a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during a game in November 2010.
On this day in 2009 - Andrey Arshavin scored 4 goals in Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
On 21 April 2009, Arshavin was named Man of the Match when he scored all four Arsenal goals in a tight match against Liverpool at Anfield, which ended 4–4. It was a thrilling encounter, and the first time Arshavin had scored four goals in one match in his entire career.
He also became the first away player to score four goals in a single league match at Anfield since Dennis Westcott for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1946, and the first Arsenal player to score four goals in any match since Júlio Baptista in 2007, who also achieved the feat against Liverpool in Anfield.
The Russian's fourth shot on goal has been buried into the back of Pepe Reina's net and Liverpool's quest for a 19th league title has been punctured.
On this day in 1992 - Real Madrid midfielder Isco was born
Isco began his career at Valencia, playing mainly in its reserve team, before joining Málaga in 2011. His performances at Malaga earned him the Golden Boy award in 2012, and a €30 million move to Real Madrid in June 2013, with whom he won four UEFA Champions League titles.
Isco represented Spain at various youth levels, including at the 2012 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2013.
On this day in 2018 - Iniesta scored in his last final with Barca in 5-0 win over Sevilla
Spain and Barca icon Iniesta departed for Japan at the end of the season and he rolled back the years with an excellent individual display.
It was Iniesta's first goal in the Copa del Rey final. Besides, it is his second goal in a final for Barcelona, after 2011 vs Real Madrid in Supercopa.
On this day in 2007 - Arsenal win the Champions League (Women)
On 21 April 2007, Arsenal Ladies defeated hosts Umeå IK 0-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Cup Final. Arsenal full-back Alex Scott (pictured on the left) provided the late match-winner with a 25-yard rocket in stoppage time.
The teams met in London for the second leg on 29 April, but battled to a scoreless draw that gave Arsenal the title. It was part of an historic quadruple for the club, who also won that season's league title, the FA Women's Cup, and the FA Women's Premier League Cup.
UEFA has since rebranded the Women's Cup as the UEFA Women's Champions League.
On this day in 2007 - Lyon was lying in wait
On 21 April 2007, Lyon clinched their sixth consecutive Ligue 1 title, even though they didn't play that day.
The critical match was at Rennes, who were hosting second-place Toulouse. Going into the match, Toulouse were eighteen points back with six matches left to play.
Rennes finally won the game with the goals from Achille Emana, Sylvain Marveaux and Bruno Cheyrou.
As it turned out, Lyon would have taken the title anyway, as they won three and drew two of their remaining matches to finish seventeen points clear of Marseille (Toulouse finished in third).
The result made Lyon champions for a record sixth straight season, the first time any team from the "Big 5" European leagues had managed such a feat. They then extended the record to seven the following season.
On this day in 1986 - Goalkeeping by committee doesn't work
On 21 April 1986, West Ham center-back Alvin Martin scored a rare hat-trick against Newcastle--with each goal coming against a different goalkeeper.
Newcastle began the day with Martin Thomas, their regular goalkeeper. After only four minutes, Martin beat Thomas for his first goal of the day.
By halftime, with Thomas having conceded two more West Ham goals and a Newcastle own-goal, he was unable to continue, replaced by midfielder Chris Hedworth for the second half. Hedworth lasted less than 30 minutes in goal after damaging his collarbone on an awkward fall, but not before Martin scored again.
As Hedworth returned to the midfield, forward Peter Beardsley stepped between the pipes and conceded three more goals, the last of which was delivered by Martin in the 84th minute.
