The greatest comebacks in history
SAN FRANCISCO: Great comebacks and collapses in sports history after Oracle Team USA rallied from 8-1 down to level the America’s Cup at 8-8 with two triumphs on Tuesday:
England cricket, 1981 Ashes Test series against Australia: The “Headingley Miracle” when Australia declared on 401, England managed 174 in response and were 137 for 5 at tea on the fourth day. But Ian Botham struck for 149 not out and Bob Willis took eight wickets for only 43 runs to rally England to an incredible triumph by 18 runs in what would be known as “Botham’s Ashes.”
1996Masters: TheEnglishman trailed last-pair playing partner Greg Norman by six strokes entering the final round at Augusta National and beat him by five strokes, firing a 67 while the Australian shot a nightmare 78.
Boston Red Sox, 2004 Major League Baseball playoff series: TheNewYork Yankees won the first three games of the best-ofseven American League Championship Series before arch-rival Boston became the first team in Major League Baseball history to win the last four games to capture a series and went on to sweep St Louis for their first World Series crown since 1918.
Liverpool, 2005 Champions League final: Trailing 3-0 at half-time to AC Milan, Liverpool scored three times in six minutes and won the title on penalties.
Europe golf team, 2012 Ryder Cup: With the Americans ahead 10-6 entering the final day’s 12 singles matches, the European side pulled off the “Miracle at Medinah” with a record fightback for a 14½-13½ triumph to keep the Cup.
Stephen Hendry, 1992 World Championship snooker final: England’s Jimmy White led 14-8 but Scotland’s Hendry made an astounding rally, taking 10 frames in a row to win 18-14.
Buffalo Bills, 1993 NFL playoffs: The Houston Oilers seized a 35-3 lead early in the second half but Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich sparked the most improbable comeback in NFL history with five touchdowns and the Bills won 41-38 in overtime on their way to the Super Bowl, where they lost to Dallas.
Jean Van de Velde, 1999 British Open: Van de Velde reached the 18th hole of the final round needing only a double-bogey six to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to capture the Claret Jug. But Van de Velde found the deep rough, the Barry Burn and a greenside bunker on his way to a triple-bogey seven and would lose in a playoff to Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.
Indiana Pacers, 1995 NBA playoffs: Trailing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers are rescued when Reggie Miller scores eight points in nine seconds – he hits two free throws, a threepointer off an in-bounds play, then steals on a Knicks in-bounds play and hits another 3pointer for the win.
Henri Cochet, 1927 Wimbledon semifinals: Frenchman Cochet battled back from 5-1 down in the third set for a 2-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 Wimbledon semi-final triumph over US star Bill Tilden. Cochet, who also rallied from two sets down in the quarter-finals, saved six match points against countryman Jean Borotra to win the 1927 title.
Boston Bruins, 2013 National Hockey League playoffs: The Bruins became the first team in NHL history to trail by three goals in the third period to win the seventh game of a playoff series, rallying to beat Toronto 5-4 in overtime to capture the first-round matchup four games to three.
2013NBAgameat Cleveland: During Miami’s 27-game win streak, the second-best in league history, the Heat’s best comeback was at Cleveland, where the Cavaliers led by 27 points in the third quarter before LeBron James sparked a comeback win over his former squad. — AFP