Granted, QPR were not the strongest opposition in the world, but for Manchester City to play so poorly only to suddenly come to life and win the match in the dying seconds made for arguably the most thrilling and unpredictable climax in Premier League history.
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal feature quite prominently in this list, but it’s not all heartbreak. They found themselves 4-0 down against Reading in the League Cup at one point, and 4-2 down with a minute to go, only to ultimately prevail 7-5 after extra-time.
The type of performance that has come to be regarded as ‘typical Tottenham’ over the years. Spurs led 3-0 at half-time, before ultimately losing 5-3 against United, as they simply crumbled in the second half.
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7. Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht (2014)
https://vine.co/v/OeBvDdWtIUE
Last night’s game was another low point in what has been a below-par start to the season from Arsenal, as they let a three-goal lead slip and blew the chance of guaranteed Champions League qualification in the process.
What’s particularly special about this game is that not only did Tottenham hold a 3-0 lead, they were playing against 10 men, and yet Kevin Keegan’s City still managed to pull off perhaps the most incredible turnaround in FA Cup history.
Even the world champions-in-waiting weren’t exactly infallible in the run up to their success. Not long after thrashing Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland 6-1, they went 4-0 up against the Swedes only to end up with a solitary point owing to some desperate defending and an obvious sense of complacency late on.
One of the many signs of Arsenal’s lack of ruthlessness over the years, the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes took a blow after they somehow let a 4-0 lead slip against Newcastle, thanks to goals from Joey Barton (2), Leon Best and Cheick Tiote.
Liverpool weren’t the first team to pull off an unlikely comeback against Milan. 4-1 down from the first leg, Deportivo showed incredible character in the Champions League quarter-final to comeback and win the tie overall by beating an all-too-naive Milan. The Spaniards would secure a similarly hard-earned victory to knock Shelbourne out of the Champions League the following season.
Although it may not have involved as many goals as the rest of the games on this list, for Man United to score two goals in stoppage time against a team of Bayern’s calibre was surely a greater shock by comparison and even more difficult under the extremely pressurised circumstances.
Power ranking the 10 most improbable footballing comebacks in recent times
10. Man City 3-2 QPR (2012)
Granted, QPR were not the strongest opposition in the world, but for Manchester City to play so poorly only to suddenly come to life and win the match in the dying seconds made for arguably the most thrilling and unpredictable climax in Premier League history.
9. Reading 5-7 Arsenal (2012)
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal feature quite prominently in this list, but it’s not all heartbreak. They found themselves 4-0 down against Reading in the League Cup at one point, and 4-2 down with a minute to go, only to ultimately prevail 7-5 after extra-time.
8. Tottenham 3-5 Man United (2001)
The type of performance that has come to be regarded as ‘typical Tottenham’ over the years. Spurs led 3-0 at half-time, before ultimately losing 5-3 against United, as they simply crumbled in the second half.
7. Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht (2014)
https://vine.co/v/OeBvDdWtIUE
Last night’s game was another low point in what has been a below-par start to the season from Arsenal, as they let a three-goal lead slip and blew the chance of guaranteed Champions League qualification in the process.
6. Tottenham 3-4 Man City (2004)
What’s particularly special about this game is that not only did Tottenham hold a 3-0 lead, they were playing against 10 men, and yet Kevin Keegan’s City still managed to pull off perhaps the most incredible turnaround in FA Cup history.
5. Sweden 4-4 Germany (2012)
Even the world champions-in-waiting weren’t exactly infallible in the run up to their success. Not long after thrashing Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland 6-1, they went 4-0 up against the Swedes only to end up with a solitary point owing to some desperate defending and an obvious sense of complacency late on.
4. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal (2011)
One of the many signs of Arsenal’s lack of ruthlessness over the years, the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes took a blow after they somehow let a 4-0 lead slip against Newcastle, thanks to goals from Joey Barton (2), Leon Best and Cheick Tiote.
3. Deportivo 4-0 Milan (2004)
Liverpool weren’t the first team to pull off an unlikely comeback against Milan. 4-1 down from the first leg, Deportivo showed incredible character in the Champions League quarter-final to comeback and win the tie overall by beating an all-too-naive Milan. The Spaniards would secure a similarly hard-earned victory to knock Shelbourne out of the Champions League the following season.
2. Man United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1999)
Although it may not have involved as many goals as the rest of the games on this list, for Man United to score two goals in stoppage time against a team of Bayern’s calibre was surely a greater shock by comparison and even more difficult under the extremely pressurised circumstances.
1. Liverpool 3-3 Milan (2005)
Put simply, the greatest comeback in Champions League history. and one that will still be talked about fondly 100 years from now.
What have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.
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