Top matches of 2014 - 7) Panthers v Roosters

Dejected Roosters players watch on as Jamie Soward converts a try during the NRL 1st Qualifying Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the Penrith Panthers. Photo / Getty Images.

The Herald counts down the greatest sporting encounters of the year.

With six minutes left to play in the 2014 NRL qualifying final, it looked like the Penrith Panthers' season was over.

After over-achieving just to make the finals, the Panthers found themselves 18-12 behind against the Sydney Roosters - the top side in the competition.

But infront of 23,339 stunned supporters, the Panthers orchestrated one of the club's greatest victories in their 47-year history with a thrilling one-point win over the Premiership favourites.

After what could be best described as an up-and-down bludger of an opening half riddled with errors, this turned into an absolute belter of a semi-final.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson felt his side were on their way to closing out the match after Mitchell Pearce sliced through to score a try in the 74th minute, taking their lead to 18-12.

Enter Jamie Soward.

The polarising Penrith captain single-handedly inspired their remarkable come-from-behind victory with three of the biggest plays of his career with just three-minutes remaining on the clock.

Pouncing on Soward's perfectly weighted kick to the corner, Zelezniak's acrobatic flick of the football provided Penrith's Dean Whare the try which led to Soward needing to land a sideline conversion to lock the match up at 18-all.

It never looked liked missing. But then came the clincher, as if competing against himself, Soward then landed a 35m field goal with five seconds left.

Eventually, both sides were eliminated in the Preliminary final, but for one night, the Panthers were invincible.

Top matches of 2014:

10 - Djokovic v Federer
9 - Chiefs v Bulls/Cheetahs
8 - Kansas City v Oakland