Liverpool’s astonishing comeback against Borussia Dortmund last night has certainly sent sales of Liverpool shirts soaring (much like Dejan Lovern for the winning goal) but where does the Europa League victory rank in the best football comebacks of all time? Debate has been hot in the office today and we have picked some of our favourites.
And yes, we know we said the top 10 and have listed 13 – but the best things happen in injury time, right?
24/1/2015 – Chelsea 2 Bradford 4
Goal Scorers(Time) – Cahill (21′), Ramires (38′); Stead (41′), Morais (75′), Halliday (82′), Yeates (90+4)
If you go 2-0 down to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, even the most experienced Premier League side would start to lose hope. Not mid-table League One side Bradford City though, who scored four times to eliminate Jose Mourinho’s men in what is arguably the biggest FA Cup shock of all time.
9/4/2013 – Dortmund 3 Malaga 2
Goal Scorers(Time) – Lewandowski (40′), Santana (90′), Reus (90+2′); Joaquin (25′), Eliseu (82′)
Dortmund scored two late goals to come from a goal behind to progress to the Semi-Finals where the put out Real Madrid 4-3 over two legs. They faced Bayern Munich in the final in which they lost 2-1.
30/10/2012 – Reading 5 Arsenal 7
Goal Scorers(Time) – Roberts (12′), Koscielny OG (18′), Leigertwood (20′), N.Hunt (37′), Pogrebnyak (116′); Walcott (45+2, 90+6, 120+1), Giroud (64′), Koscielny (89′), Chamakh (103′, 120+3′)
Despite the high scoring comeback involved in this game, something else happened that still to this day gets mention on TV shows and quizzes. Some of the Arsenal players gave away shirts to the crowd thinking the game was going to a replay before being made to find the shirts to use for extra time!
16/10/2012 – Germany 4 Sweden 4
Goal Scorers(Time) – Klose (8′, 15′), Mertesacker (39′), Ozil (56′); Ibrahimovic (62′), Lustig (64′), Elmander (76′), Elm(90+3′)
Despite Germany letting a 4-0 lead slip, they still qualified for the 2014 World Cup which they went on to win. Sweden however, failed to qualify despite this.
13/5/2012 – Man City 3 QPR 2
Goal Scorers(Time) – Zabaleta (39′), Dzeko (90+2), Aguero (90+4); Cisse (48′), Mackie (66′)
Will there ever be a more dramatic moment in Premier League history? If you don’t know what Martin Tyler’s “Aguerrrrrrrrroooooooooo” means, you don’t know football!
5/4/2011 – Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4
Goal Scorers(Time) – Barton 68′, 83′), Best (75′), Tiote (87′); Walcott (1′), Djourou (3′), Van Persie (10′, 26′)
If you go 4-0 up inside 26 minutes, you go onto win the game, right? Unless you’re Arsenal of course! Despite the 8 goals, the reverse fixture was the highest scoring match in the Premier League season; Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3. A total of 18 goals over two games.
26/9/2010 – Aberdeen 2 Rangers 3
Goal Scorers(Time) – Vernon (10′), Maguire (30′); Miller (34′, 52′), Jelavic (67′)
Rangers went on to win the SPL by 2 points making this a vital comeback. The rivalry between the two clubs made it even better from the Rangers point of view.
29/10/2008 – Arsenal 4 Tottenham 4
Goal Scorers(Time) – Silvestre (37′), Gallas (46′), Adebayor (64′), Van Persie (68′); Bentley (13′), Bent (67′), Jenas (89′), Lennon (90′)
Bentley opened the scoring with out of the goals of the season but Tottenham had to fight back for the draw. This was the joint highest scoring game of the campaign. Arsenal were involved in the other game, also a 4-4 draw, this time away to Liverpool.
15/6/2008 – Turkey 3 Czech Reublic 2
Goal Scorers(Time) – Turan (75′), Nihat (87′, 89′); Koller (34′), Plasil (62′)
Two goals in the last 5 minutes meant that Turkey finished 2nd in their Euro 2008 group and advanced to the last 8. The Czechs’ on the other hand finished 3rd and did not advance.
25/5/2005 – Liverpool 3 AC Milan 3
Goal Scorers(Time) – Gerard (54′), Smicer (56′), Alonso (59′); Maldini (1′), Crespo (39′, 44′)
With AC Milan being 3-0 up at half time, the odds were stacked against Liverpool. The half time team talk must have been magical as Liverpool went on to win on penalties to secure a 5th European Cup.
4/2/2004 – Tottenham 3 Man City 4
Goal Scorers(Time) – King (2′), Keane (19′), Ziege (43′); Distin (48′), Bosvelt (69′), Wright-Phillips (80′), Macken (90′)
A great cup turn around. Even better when you take into consideration that Barton was sent off for Man City after 45 minutes. City set themselves up with a Manchester Derby in the next round that the went on to lose.
26/5/1999 – Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1
Goal Scorers(Time) – Sheringham (90+1′), Solskjaer (90+3′); Basler (6′)
The latest come back in European Cup Final history. Sir Alex Ferguson worked magic again as he secured a Treble for Manchester United and another piece of silver were both to United’s and his own personal collection.
What is your personal favourite? Have we missed one that tops these? Tell us in the comments below.
