Ivan Ramiro – The Art of Timing

Five foot eight. Hardly the ideal height for a centre-back. But Ivan Ramiro Cordoba always managed to reach what others couldn't.

1 November 2008. Reggina host Inter at the Stadio Granillo on Matchday 10 of Serie A. The Nerazzurri, reigning Italian champions, sit fourth in the table, two points off the top, while Reggina are bottom with just five points.

José Mourinho is now in charge of Inter, having replaced Roberto Mancini in the summer. The Portuguese coach is still looking for the right formula for a team used to winning but adjusting to a new way of playing. He has experimented with a 4-3-3 and even an attack-minded 4-2-4, but has yet to find the right balance.

After a 4-0 win away to Roma, Inter followed up with two goalless draws against Genoa and Fiorentina. The Nerazzurri remained unbeaten, which was crucial in a title race, but goals had been hard to come by. They needed a win in Reggio Calabria to keep pace with the leaders.

And for once, Inter found their scoring touch. After just 24 minutes, the Nerazzurri were 2-0 up thanks to a thunderous right-footed strike from Maicon, set up by Ibrahimovic, and a goal from Vieira following an assist from Quaresma. But football has a rather cruel sense of humour.

Cozza pulled one back with a strike from the edge of the area, before Brienza made it 2-2 with a fierce left-footed effort in the second half.

Inter threw everything forward. Mourinho brought on Crespo and Obinna, but Campagnolo stood firm against the Nerazzurri onslaught. A third consecutive draw looked inevitable.

Then, deep into stoppage time, a scramble in the box left the ball loose. Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, a centre-back who hadn't scored for almost a year, needed no second invitation. One touch to control it, another to fire home the winner. Reggina 2-3 Inter.

After the match, Mourinho described it as a “great game”, praising his side's response after conceding the equaliser. Cordoba, meanwhile, focused on the importance of the three points. “We hadn't conceded a goal in four games,” the Colombian said, “but that's football. You can never take anything for granted.”

In a game dominated by giants, Cordoba had built his career on anticipation and a willingness to give everything for the team. That night, though, it was the final touch of the match that gave him his moment of glory as an unlikely goalscorer.

The victory at the Granillo sparked a run of eight consecutive wins. From that point on, Inter never looked back. Mourinho found the winning formula with a 4-3-1-2 formation and Stankovic in the attacking midfield role, laying the foundations for a fourth successive Scudetto and his first as Inter coach.

It was another memorable moment in Cordoba's 12-year Inter career, which would reach its pinnacle with the historic Treble in 2010 before he hung up his boots in 2012.

Five foot eight, as we said. Because sometimes, winning a match isn't about how tall you are.

It's about being in the right place when the final ball comes your way.