GERS BID TO JOIN THE COMEBACK KINGS
RANGERS face a Herculean task to overcome their 3-1 Ibrox deficit from the Europa League last-16 clash away to Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow.
But Scottish clubs have proved in the past that a firstleg loss can be overcome.
Here are six of the best Scottish comebacks.
Dunfermline 6, Valencia 2 (Fairs Cup, 1962).
Four goals down from the first leg in Spain, the Pars produced one of Scottish football’s great comebacks. A pulsating tie saw goals from Harry Melrose, Jackie Sinclair (two), Jim McLean, George Peebles and Alex Smith level the tie on aggregate.
Dunfermline lost the play-off 1-0 in Lisbon.
Kilmarnock 5, Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Fairs Cup, 1964).
Killie looked to have no chance with the Germans 3-0 up from the first leg and it got even worse when Eintracht scored after just two minutes.
But a double from Ronnie Hamilton and goals from Brian McIlroy, James McFadzean and John McInally produced Rugby Park’s finest hour.
Hibs 5, Napoli 0 (Fairs Cup, 1967). After a 4-1 defeat in Italy, Hibs were written off.
But they managed to produce a magnificent display to stun Napoli, who had Dino Zoff in goals.
Bobby Duncan set the ball rolling with an early goal and further strikes from Pat Quinn, Peter Cormack, Pat Stanton and Colin Stein routed the Serie A side.
Celtic 5, Sporting Lisbon 0 (UEFA Cup, 1983).
The Hoops trailed to a 2-0 deficit after the first leg in Portugal but proceeded to destroy Sporting. Tommy
Burns netted the all-important early goal before Tom McAdam levelled the tie.
Second-half strikes from Brian McClair, Murdo MacLeod and Frank McGarvey handed the Hoops a famous win against future manager Jozef Venglos’ side.
Aberdeen 3, Ujpest Dozsa 0 (ECWC, 1984).
Aberdeen missed a hatful of chances in Hungary and faced an uphill task to reach the semi-finals again of the Cup Winners’ Cup after losing 2-0.
But a Mark McGhee double took the game into extra-time and McGhee netted his third as the holders won through. They would crash out to Porto in the semi-finals.
Dynamo Moscow 0, Celtic 2 (CLQ, 2009).
Celtic had never won a European tie after losing the first game at Parkhead.
But goals from Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras in Russia overturned that first-leg deficit in Tony Mowbray’s finest hour as Hoops boss.
The result ended a six-year spell without an away win in the Champions League.