SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 9 hrs 45 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Top five European comebacks

:Headline: Top five European comebacks: ID:109020: from db_amp
Sports Mole looks at five of the best comebacks in European football history.

With the second matchday of both the Champions League and Europa League having taken place this week there was yet more drama, excitement and some late goals to boot. Lazio were a beaten side at 3-1 down before they snatched a draw away to Trabzonspor and Atletico Madrid came from behind to win at Porto.

It got Sports Mole thinking about some of the comebacks that have been managed in European football. Here, we round up five of the best.

1. Fulham 4-1 Juventus (5-4 on aggregate)

There were several World Cup winners in the Juventus side that Fulham had to beat by three goals if the Europa League run was to continue. The Whites were 3-1 down after the opening leg and then suffered a further blow by conceding to David Trezeguet's early strike. Now Fulham needed three goals just to force extra time, or four to win it.

What followed was arguably the greatest night that Craven Cottage ever witnessed. Bobby Zamora brushed off Fabio Cannavaro for a quick response, before a second from Zoltan Gera and a penalty levelled matters. Just as it was heading into a deciding 30 minutes, Clint Dempsey scored with an outrageous chip to send Fulham into the quarter-finals.

2. Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Espanyol (3-3 on aggregate, 3-2 on penalties), 1988

It has not been all that long since European finals were two-legged affairs. While not much beats the thrill of a one-off final at a neutral venue, a seemingly impossible comeback from 3-0 down after the first leg pushes them close. This is exactly what Bayer Leverkusen managed to beat Espanyol in the 1988 UEFA Cup final.

Espanyol had completely outplayed their German opponents in the first leg and at 0-0 at half time it was so far, so good. However, back came Leverkusen with three second-half goals and took the game to penalties. Despite Ralf Falkenmayer missing his, the comeback was complete with a 3-2 shootout win.

3. Middlesbrough 4-2 Steaua Bucuresti (4-3 on aggregate), 2006

Just as Fulham managed a few years later, Middlesbrough set the benchmark for unlikely Premier League UEFA Cup finalists. This time, however, it was the semi-final performance that was so admirable. Boro were 1-0 down after the first leg in Romania, and might well have fancied their chances.

However, Steaua scored twice through Nicolae Dica and Dorin Goian to go 3-0 up on aggregate, which surely meant that there was no way back for the North-East side. Cue Massimo Maccarone. The Italian got one back before Mark Viduka notched a second. With the wind in their sails Chris Riggott and a late winner from Maccarone sent Boro into the final after the unlikeliest of turnarounds.

4. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 on penalties), 2005

If there was ever a time for arguably the best 45 minutes in your club's history, it would be when you are 3-0 down at half time in the Champions League final. That is the position Liverpool found themselves in in May 2005, after Hernan Crespo and Kaka had inspired Milan to what looked to be a winning margin.

Steven Gerrard had other ideas, as he got the first back before his efforts were matched by Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso to pull the scores level and take the game to penalties. There was time for one more hero, with Jerzy Dudek saving two spot kicks as Liverpool lifted the Champions League.

5. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 1999

With the Premier League and FA Cup already in the bag, Manchester United took on the might of Bayern Munich in the hope of a historic treble. Bayern went ahead at the start of the game through Mario Basler's effort from range and were determined to hang on to it.

As injury time arrived, surely the worst that could happen for Bayern now was extra time? To believe that was to write of the determination of this United side. First Teddy Sheringham turned in a David Beckham pass before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ensured hero status with a prodded effort to completely change the destination of the great trophy.

amp_article__109020 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-10-04 21:30:38:
html db last update - 2013-10-04 21:30:38 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Massimo Maccarone

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .