Blog

The act for a team to pull in a comeback is limited by the game given 90+ minutes, a team can surprise the opponents by coming in from behind to win a match in which they were losing. For a team to pull in a comeback players normally have team spirit and teamwork is also a key for such situations, spectators also play a big part by cheering their favourite teams until the last whistle is blown, and the cheering by spectators motivates the players on the pitch. Here are the 10 best comebacks in the football history.

NEWCASTLE VS ARSENAL – (4-4)

Newcastle United were down 4-0 at halftime in a Premier League match against Arsenal in the 2011/12 season. With only 45+ minutes left in the second half, Newcastle scored four goals to force a draw with Arsenal and secure a point in the match.

REAL MADRID VS MANCHESTER CITY – (6-5 AGGREGATE)

Manchester City won 4-3 against defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final match of the 2022/23 season. The second leg took place at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and Real Madrid was still trailing when Riyad Mahrez scored making it 5-3 on aggregate at around the 73^rd minute of the game. Late two goals from Real’s player Rodrygo in the 90^th and 91^st minutes forced the game to an extra time, five minutes into the first half of extra time Real Madrid awarded a penalty and Karim Benzema scored the penalty and secured a 6-5 aggregate win over Man. City.

LYON VS MONTPELLIER – (5-4)

In the entertaining match between Lyon and Montpellier in the Ligue1 league competition (May 2023) where Lyon scored the opening goal, Montpellier’s Elye Wahi later scored four goals in fifteen minutes turning the match on their advantage by leading 1-4. Lyon came back strong through goals from Lacazette (two goals) and Lovren (one goal) making the score line 4-4, ten minutes were added after the elapsed 90 minutes and Lyon was awarded a penalty which Lacazette converted and his fourth goal for the night to seal a 5-4 win against Montpellier.

ENGLAND VS CAMEROON – (3-2)

England through David Platt opened the score line in the 26^th minute of the 1990 World Cup quarterfinals, and Cameroon took the lead through goals from Emmanuel Kunde and Eugene Ekeke. With only seven minutes left England was awarded a penalty and Gary Lineker scored to have an equalizer which made the game advance to extra time. Gary Lineker once again found the back of the net from the spot securing a win and a place in the semi-finals.

FRANCE VS CROATIA – (2-1)

France was the host of the 1998 World Cup in which they faced Croatia in the semi-finals, Croatia scored the first goal of the match in the 46^th minute but the goal was equalized by Lilian Thuram some minutes later. Thuram scored again in the 70^th minute to put France into the lead and the host secured the 2-1 win to book a place in the World Cup final against Brazil, France won the final match and became the world champions.

MANCHESTER CITY VS QPR – (3-2)

Manchester City won their first Premier League title through a historic comeback against QPR in the 2012/13 season. Man City was down 2-1 into the final minutes of the stoppage time but Edin Dzeko’s equalizer goal in the 92th minute made the game more lively, two minutes later in the 94^th minute an incredible goal from Sergio Aguero sealed the victory of Man City.

LIVERPOOL VS AC MILAN – (3-3)

The 2005 UEFA Champions League final was between Liverpool against AC Milan, Milan was leading 3-0 at halftime and Liverpool needed to be victorious by winning their fifth UEFA Champions League trophy. Surprisingly Liverpool managed to equalize the goals in six minutes during the second half, the match winner was decided in a penalty shootout in which Liverpool beat AC Milan to be crowned champions.

ANGOLA VS MALI – (4-4)  

The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations clash between Angola and Mali witnessed one of the greatest comebacks ever when Mali came back from a 4-0 deficit to equalize the score to 4-4.

BELGIUM VS JAPAN – (3-2)

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup Belgium came from a 2-0 deficit to win the match against Japan, a stunning last-minute counterattack in the 94^th minute gave Belgium the lead with a goal from Nacer Chadli making the score line 3-2 propelling Belgium into the quarterfinals.

MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED – (2-3)  

The Manchester derby in the Premier League of the 2017/18 season saw Manchester United coming from behind to win against Manchester City. Man United were 2-0 down by half time but two goals from Paul Pogba and a volley goal from Chris Smalling secured a win for Man United.

In football, the final whistle is only considered to be the end of the match but without the referee’s whistle a lot can happen within the minutes left, the losing team can overturn the scoreline results with just two minutes left.