10 Greatest Football Comebacks: Football is the most-watched sport across the globe and the game has continued to give fans memorable moments.
The sport which started some years ago has now been played in all parts of the world with new competition being introduced and new stars emerging every season.
However, some matches have standout over the past few years due to the result.
There have been some matches where all hope were said to be lost for the losing team but something dramatic happened and they eventually won the tie.
Without any further delay, let’s check out ten matches that have proved that nothing is impossible in the world of sport especially football.
10 Greatest Football Comebacks Of All Time
10. Germany 4-4 Sweden, World Cup qualifying, 2012
Germany is one of the biggest countries in football and no one would have predicted a team filled with
A-list players to squander a four-goal lead in front of their fans.
Led by Joachim Löw, Germany were always the favourite to win a football match and they gave a good account of themselves against Sweden leading led 3-0 at the break.
Mesut Ozil ensured that they have nothing to worry about when he scored their fourth goal but that was the beginning of another football comeback.
Sweden brought on Kim Kallstrom who changed the look of things with an outstanding performance.
Kallstrom assisted Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 62nd minute for Sweden first goal before laying a pass
for Mikael Lustig who also got on the score sheet just two minutes later.
Johan Elmander dragged the visitors closer in the 76th minute before Rasmus Elme equalised in stoppage time to spark wild celebrations from all wearing yellow and blue at the Olympiastadion.
9. Angola 4-4 Mali, Africa Cup of Nations, 2010
The Africa Cup of Nations 2010 sparked into life in the opening game of the tournament when host nation, Angola, lost a four goals lead in front of their fans.
Coming into the game full of confidence, Angola were flying with Flavio Amado’s first-half brace.
Manucho Goncalves scored a 74th-minute penalty to extend Angola’s lead but the match was just getting started.
Seydou Keita got the party started for Mali when he pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 79th minute.
Fredi Kanoute reduced Angola’s lead to two goals in the 88th minute but the home side still looked safe
as the match entered stoppage time only for Keita and Mustapha Yatabare to score in the 93rd and 95th minutes, respectively.
8. Manchester United 2 vs 1 Bayern Munich – (Champions League 1999)
Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson was regarded as the king of comebacks and this was
evident in their Champions League final clash against Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich took the lead in the sixth minute of the match and it looks like there were winning the game before Sir Alex Ferguson made his magical move.
Ferguson introduced Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the second half and that proved to be a decisive moment in the match.
Sheringham scored the equaliser in the 91st minutes before Solskjaer ensured that the Champions League trophy return to Old Trafford by poking the ball past Oliver Kahn two minutes later.
7. Tottenham 3-2 Ajax (3-3 AGG, 2019 UCL Semi-final, Cruyff Arena)
Often regarded as one of the most entertaining Champions League matches in the history of the competition, Tottenham Hotspur defied all odds to defeat a youthful Ajax team on aggregate.
The 2019 UEFA Champions League saw Ajax putting in an impressive performance that saw them eliminate Real Madrid.
Ajax looked all set for another victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final when they won the first leg, 1- 0.
Tottenham started the second leg in a way they would not have wanted when De Ligt scored in the fifth minute and Hakim Ziyech doubled Ajax’s lead with a sweeping finish after an assist by Tadic.
Mauricio Pochettino men needed a miracle to win the match and this started in the second half when Lucas Moura scored two goals.
However, the London club needed three goals to book a place in the final and their comeback was completed in the final minute when Lucas Moura picked up a sublime pass from Dele Alli and scored the third goal.
Tottenham would eventually lose the final to Liverpool but they had a memorable night that will forever be remembered by football lovers.
6. Reading 5-7 Arsenal (Capital One Cup 2012)
The Capital One Cup gave fans one of the greatest comebacks in world football when Arsenal battled it out with Reading.
Arsenal who were playing in the Premier League were the favourite to win the match against a Reading side that were playing in the Championship at that time.
However, Reading gave a good account of themselves by leading 4-0 late in the first half and appeared certain to make the last eight of the League Cup.
That was not the case as Arsenal got back into the game with the first goal scored by Theo Walcott in first-half stoppage time.
Arsenal came back stronger and goals from Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny dragged Arsenal them to their hosts before Walcott turned the ball home in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to stay alive.
It was all drama from that moment as Arsenal came out of their shell to score first in the extra time. Marouane Chamakh gave Arsene Wenger’s team the lead but Pavel Pogrebnyak equalised for Reading with five minutes left.
Five minutes was enough for another drama as Walcott scored the gunners sixth goal before Chamakh scored the winner in the dying minute of the match.
5. Everton 2 – 2 Newcastle (Premier League 2019/2020)
Have you ever wondered about losing the chance to win three-point in front of your fans with just one minute left to play? Everton were left in a speechless state during their Premier League clash against Newcastle in the 2019/2020 season.
Moise Kean scored his first Toffees goal before Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it 2-0 to the hosts with his 12th of the season and it looked like Carlo Ancelotti men will take all three-point.
However, fans were entertained in the space of one minute when Newcastle pulled a goal back in the 94th minute.
Lejeune took advantage of some slack defending at a corner to crash an overhead kick past Jordan Pickford and in the 95th minute, he scored another goal.
In the space of one minute, Newcastle were able to snatch three-point from Everton and it’s still regarded as one of the greatest comebacks.
4. Liverpool 4 – 0 Barcelona (Liverpool Won 4-3 on aggregate)
Barcelona have cemented their place in history as one of the best clubs in European football but it was a clash of the titans when they met Liverpool in the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League in the 2019/2020 season.
Lionel Messi’s masterclass gave Barcelona a three-nil lead in the first leg that took place at Camp Nou but Liverpool turned the tie around at Anfield.
In what might be regarded as the most memorable night in Anfield, Liverpool who were without Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firminho triumphed over a Barcelona side.
A brace from Georginio Wijnaldum and Divock Origi gave Liverpool a deserved four-nil win over Barcelona.
Liverpool went on to win the Champions League beating fellow England club, Tottenham Hotspur.
3. Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal 2011
Newcastle United in 2011 proved that nothing is impossible in the world of football as they came back from a four-nil deficit to snatch a draw from Arsenal.
Arsenal were dominant in the opening half-hour at St James’ Park with Theo Walcott opening the scoring in the first minute, while Robin van Persie’s double ensured they led 4-0 after 25 minutes.
Some Newcastle fans had lost hope but those who left the stadium missed the chance to witness one of the greatest comebacks in football.
With 21 minutes to go, Newcastle pulled a goal back through Barton who converted a penalty.
However, Newcastle’s momentum rise when Leon Best struck in the 75th minute to make it 4-2.
In the 83rd minute, Barton converted another penalty and when it looked like Arsenal will be winning by a slim margin, Cheick Tiote volleyed home from 25 yards to complete Newcastle’s comeback in front of their fans.
2. Barcelona 6 – 2 Paris Saint-Germain (Barcelona won on aggregate)
Spanish giant, Barcelona got the whole world talking in 2017 when they came back from a 4-0 first-leg loss to defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the match gave a good account of themselves from start to finish.
Despite having one of the best players in history, Lionel Messi on the pitch, the Catalonia club were outclassed by PSG.
However, things took a dramatic twist some weeks later when Barcelona put six goals past Paris Saint-Germain that was coached by Unai Emery.
Barcelona won the first half 2- 0 with Luis Suarez getting on the score sheet and an own goal from Layvin Kurzawa.
Lionel Messi made three from the spot four minutes into the second half but
Edinson Cavani gave PSG a breathing space when he scored another goal.
Despite the setback, Neymar gave the match a new dimension when he scored an 88th-minute free-kick before converting a contentious penalty.
He then assisted Sergi Roberto for an unpredictable winner.
1. AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool 2005 (Liverpool Won 3-2 on Penalties)
The miracle at Istanbul.
Liverpool stagged what will be remembered as the greatest comebacks in football during the UEFA Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005.
The reds went into the match full of confidence but that was disrupted by early goals from Paolo Maldini.
AC Milan went into the break with a three-nil lead.
Hernan Crespo scored bagged a brace but Liverpool turned the tier around in the second half.
Led by Steven Gerrard, Liverpool produced a stunning display in the second half. The reds captain of the red pulled a goal back in the 54th minute.
Vladimir Smicer struck just two minutes later before Gerrard won a penalty that was converted that Xabi Alonso after Dida had saved the Spaniard’s initial spot-kick.
Liverpool went on to win the match in a penalty shoot-out.
Conclusion: 10 Greatest Football Comebacks
The above-listed matches are chosen from a personal point of view. Sports lovers have the chance of expressing their opinion via the comment session.
Comebacks in football have continued till date as football lovers continue to learn that it’s not over until the final whistle.
