It’s been just over a week since the New England Patriots made one of the most outrageous comebacks of recent times, as they came back from 25 points down to beat the Falcolns 34-28.
Since then, our LincSport reporters have given their favourite comebacks in sporting history, and some may just surprise you…
Kieran Hymus:
I would have to say the 2005 Champions League Final. It was such an amazing moment not just for Liverpool but for English football as a whole. When 3-0 down to a Milan side filled with greats such as Kaka, Pirlo, Nesta and Cafu most teams would give up. However, to come out in the second half, score three goals in such quick succession and then win by penalties it goes to show that anything can happen in football. I don’t think anyone ever expected Liverpool to come back and for me that makes it one of the best sporting comebacks ever. The icing on the cake is that Gerrard’s man of the match performance helped build his legacy as one of the greatest English players of all time.
Patrick Gouldsbrough:
While the 2005 Liverpool achievement was great, I would still have to say the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich was the best comeback of all time! The fact that United were still 1-0 down in the 90th minute, a draw to take the tie to extra time would have been a great achievement! However , with a minute of injury time gone and the Munich fans celebrating the fact that they thought they’d won the cup, they were stunned by two goals by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! The Norwegian had come on 12 minutes previous as an impact sub for Andy Cole and brought the cup back to Manchester in what was and still is, the biggest smash and grab win in history!
Danyal Khan:
One of my all-time favourite comebacks was in 2014, when Liverpool were going for the Premier League title. After they had just beat Man City 3-2 in April and Gerrard’s famous huddle of ‘This doesn’t fucking slip now,’ I simply couldn’t believe it when Crystal Palace came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3. Palace scored thrice in nine minutes, and with that, Liverpool’s chances of winning the title were extinguished. It’s my favourite because in the moment, you couldn’t believe what was happening, and what it meant for Liverpool, and that realisation that their suffering would continue for years to come. Honourable mentions to United vs Munich, Patriots vs Falcolns (WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS), United’s title winning 1996 season closing a 12 point gap to Newcastle and the 2012 Ryder Cup triumph for Team Europe.
Liam Gibbs:
The European team’s Miracle at Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup. Europe were trailing 10-4 at one stage on Saturday afternoon needing to win 10.5 of the remaining 14 points on offer to win the Cup outright. The tone was set by winning the last two fourball matches on Saturday. Europe won seven of the first 10 singles matches on Sunday before Martin Kaymer sunk a par putt on the last to take Europe to the 14 points needed to retain the Cup and spark wild scenes. Molinari halved the last with Tiger Woods to win it outright and complete the most remarkable of sporting comebacks.
James Williams:
Best sporting comeback ever has to be Roger Federer coming back to tennis after 6 months out with injury and winning the Australian Open last month. For a 35 year old that’s quite a comeback and shows what a true champion he is.
Dan Creesey:
Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal. The dictionary definition of a game of two halves. A rampant Arsenal bulldozed their way into a commanding 4-0 half-time lead, emphatically dismantling a hapless Newcastle defence. The pendulum then swung the other way in the second 45, Alan Pardew’s side had greater freedom to play, with no pressure on at all and before they knew it they’d scored three and the most improbable of comebacks was one. Midfielder Cheick Tioté then struck a sweet volley from the edge of the area to level the game at four goals a piece, erupting St James’ Park in the process. The most astonishing Premier League comeback of all time.
Sam Hewitt:
I’m counting this as a comeback! League One last day of the season, Doncaster Rovers against Brentford in 2013. Winner goes up to the Championship, the loser settles for the play offs. A tense game until the 94th minute when Brentford get a penalty, for handball. Obviously I’m gutted at this point. Marcelo Trotta takes it and it hits the bar, and then there’s a right scramble in the box. It’s eventually cleared away to Billy Paynter who runs the length of the pitch with the ball and no one near him. He passes the ball to Coppinger who puts it into the empty net and sparking flares in the away end and a pitch invasion. From potentially third in the 94th minute, to 1st in the 95th as Bournemouth lost in their game.