Manchester United completed an extraordinary comeback against Lyon in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, as two goals in the final minute of extra-time propelled the Red Devils from the brink of elimination to sheer ecstasy.
Despite having a two goal lead and a man advantage, Ruben Amorim’s side found themselves 4-2 down and on the cusp of a humiliating exit from Europe. A Bruno Fernandes penalty sparked an unlikely revival, before Kobbie Mainoo raised the roof with a 120th minute equaliser. Just 86 seconds after levelling the scoreline, Old Trafford was sent into delirium when Harry Maguire popped up with a header to complete a stunning turnaround.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United’s 5-4 victory (7-6 aggregate win) added to a catalogue of historic fightbacks in European football. FromTheSpot takes a look at the top five comebacks by English clubs that defied the odds in Champions League and Europa League history.
5) Fulham 4-1 Juventus (Europa League Round of 16, 2010)
Aggregate: Fulham 5-4 Juventus
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the inaugural UEFA Europa League season, Fulham shocked Juventus in the second leg of their last-16 tie. The Italian giants, boasting legends such as Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Del Piero, travelled to Craven Cottage with a comfortable 3-1 lead but were floored by a remarkable comeback from Roy Hodgson’s side.
Fulham’s task on the night was made even harder after David Trezeguet opened the scoring for the Old Lady inside two minutes, extending their advantage to three goals. However, Bobby Zamora pulled one back just seven minutes later to kickstart Fulham’s revival.
The Cottagers were handed a significant advantage midway through the first half when Cannavaro was sent off for pulling back Zoltán Gera. The Hungarian was involved again as he netted either side of half-time to draw the London side level, before Clint Dempsey’s brilliant late chipped goal sealed a legendary win for Fulham.
Fulham’s 4-1 victory over Juventus was the crown jewel of their incredible journey to the Europa League final, which they agonisingly lost to Atlético Madrid in extra-time.
4) Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Champions League Semi-Final, 2019)
Aggregate: Ajax 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Embed from Getty ImagesIn their run to the 2019 Champions League final, a sensational Lucas Moura hat-trick helped Tottenham Hotspur overcome a first-leg defeat and a 2-0 second-leg deficit at the expense of a talented Ajax side.
Erik ten Hag’s Ajax team, who had already defeated Real Madrid and Juventus in the previous rounds, welcomed Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side to the Johan Cruyff Arena with a slender 1-0 lead. The four-time European Cup winners looked set to reach the final after goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech put the Dutch side 3-0 ahead on aggregate.
Yet in the second half, Moura inspired Spurs with three goals to send them through on away goals. The Brazilian scored a quick brace just before the hour mark to level the score on the night and put Spurs within a goal from their first European Cup final. In the 96th minute, Moura completed his hat-trick to send the Lilywhites into raptures.
That night in Ajax was the peak of Spurs’ recent history, as the club have failed to replicate the magic produced by Pochettino’s side since.
3) Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (Champions League Semi-Final, 2019)
Aggregate: Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals were marked by two incredible comebacks: Spurs against Ajax, and Liverpool against Barcelona. The Reds had been undone by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou in the first leg and had to overturn a three-goal deficit. With star players Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino unavailable due to injury, Liverpool’s chances of progressing to a ninth European Cup final were slim.
Anfield was rocking under the lights and Divock Origi got Liverpool off to the perfect start inside seven minutes. The Reds equalised in the second half after a quick brace from substitute Georginio Wijnaldum, before a moment of genius from Trent Alexander-Arnold completed Liverpool’s resurgence. The right-back innovatively took a quick corner, catching the Barcelona defence off guard, and Origi was found again to fire it home.
It was an inspirational comeback from Liverpool pioneered by Jürgen Klopp, who motivated his team before the game by simply saying: “I think it’s impossible, but because it’s you, we have a chance.“
2) Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (Champions League Final, 1999)
Embed from Getty ImagesSpeaking after Manchester United’s miraculous comeback against Lyon, Ruben Amorim said he was inspired by the heroics of 1999. In their illustrious history, United’s triumph against Bayern Munich stands alone as the club’s greatest ever achievement.
United had already won the Premier League and FA Cup the week before their mammoth European final in Barcelona, and were on track for an unprecedented treble. However, this was put under threat just six minutes into the game when Mario Basler put Bayern ahead.
Yet in true ‘Fergie Time’ fashion, the Red Devils found two goals to secure the club’s second European Cup. Substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær were on hand in injury time to cement history as Manchester United became the first club in English history to win the treble.
1) Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Champions League Final, 2005)
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ is arguably the pinnacle of European comebacks.
Facing Carlo Ancelotti’s legendary AC Milan team, Liverpool found themselves 3-0 down at half-time after two goals from Hernán Crespo and one from Paolo Maldini. The Reds had simply been outclassed by the Italian champions.
Yet Rafael Benítez’s side came out for the second half and incredibly fought their way back into the game. After captain Steven Gerrard pulled one back in the 54th minute, Vladimír Šmicer drilled one in just two minutes later. The momentum had fully swung in favour of Liverpool, who equalised on the hour mark after Xabi Alonso turned in the rebound of his missed penalty.
They somehow survived the rest of the match, with Jerzy Dudek denying Andriy Shevchenko in extra-time with an incredible double save. The polish goalkeeper was the hero in the penalty shoot-out after he stopped Andrea Pirlo and Shevchenko’s spot kicks to secure Liverpool’s fifth European Cup.