Europe's comeback from a 10-6 deficit going into the final day of the 2012 Ryder Cup to win 14-13 will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. But is it the greatest?
Here are some of the most memorable Lazarus stories of our time following sport -
(NB: There might be a bit of the round ball here - and one rugby game we probably don't want to be reminded about)
Manchester City 3-2 QPR, 2012
Many fans will remember this game for eternity - even if Manchester City's comeback from 8 points down on their rivals Manchester United with 6 games left was highly remarkable. In fact, City's game with QPR pretty much summed up the club's history in 90 minutes; highly dramatic and stressful. It was a game that City were expected to win comfortably having done the hard work against Champions League chasing Newcastle and their title rivals, United in the last 2 games. Alas, QPR fighting relegation saw things differently, and snatched the lead in the middle of the 2nd half. United fans were celebrating another title until Edin Dzeko popped up to score in the 92nd minute. Their anxiety soon turned to despair as Sergio Aguero scored 2 minutes later to trigger the biggest outpouring of joy in years and cap off the most thrilling comeback and finish to a Premier League title race.
Manchester United fans will argue this but there is no doubt that Liverpool's comeback is easily the greatest ever comeback in a Champions League Final. 3-0 down at halftime and completely out of the game, Liverpool - who had finished 5th that season behind Everton in the league - led by an inspired substitution in Vladimir Smicer and captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard, hauled themselves back rather quickly in the 2nd half and within minutes found themselves level with the Rossoneri. Milan were shattered and succumbed in the penalty shootout, paving the way for Liverpool's 5th Champions League title, and most stunning of them all.
There are All Blacks fans who will begrudgingly agree that France's comeback from 24-10 down in the 2nd half to shock the pre-tournament favourites was something quite special. Les Bleus have a tendency of pulling out their best whenever they take on New Zealand's best - especially in a sudden death game at the Rugby World Cup - and rather than surrender, they played some of the best rugby ever seen at a World Cup to lead 43-24 - a late Jeff Wilson try was only mere consolation for an All Blacks side that could easily sympathize with the Americans at Medinah Golf Club this year - they didn't quite choke, the other side just played once-in-a-lifetime stuff.
Another once-in-a-lifetime performance, this time from Sir Ian Botham who hauled England from the brink of a humiliating innings defeat at the 3rd Ashes test at Headingley with a stunning century, and then bowled out the Australians in their 2nd innings, to lead England to the most remarkable turnaround victory in test cricket. It was a pivotal point in the series, as England would go on to win the series 3-1 and retain the Ashes.
The Bambino Series. The Red Sox went into yet another race for the pennant against their much hated rivals from the south, with Babe Ruth's 86-year-old curse weighing heavy on their shoulders. They had come close the year before losing an epic 11-inning game 7 decider to the Yankees and when the Yankees took a 3-0 series lead, order seemed set to continue. When the Red Sox won a marathon Game 4, everyone thought it would be mere consolation. Then they won another marathon in game 5 to take the series back to South Bronx. Unbelievably, the Red Sox with momentum won game 6 and become the first team ever to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to force a decider. The Red Sox duly won Game 7 at a canter and reach their first World Series in 86 years - which they won comfortably. But the story of their World title was really all about their comeback against those dirty New Yorkers.
I'm sure I've missed a few. What do you think is the greatest comeback in sporting history?
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