Two Minutes Sport: Greatest Comebacks in Sporting History

Today we witnessed something quite quite special in sport - the great come from behind win. It's wonderful for the neutral and supporters of the eventual victor, absolutely heartbreaking for supporters of the eventual loser.

It is most galling to think that they were in what seemed an insurmountable winning position.

But here are the greatest comebacks in sporting history.

2013, Oracle comes from 8-1 behind to retain America's Cup

Much as 4 million Kiwis would hate to say it, but you've gotta give Aussie Jimmy Spithill and his Oracle Team a lot of credit for the fightback that they showed. Having to win 8 races knowing that the next one could be your last, in a big final series with the America's Cup on the line, against an expert and unified opponent at home is a lot of pressure - but they delivered in some style (and cash).

Indeed, the media outlets back in New Zealand were pretty much already preparing for Auckland to host the America's Cup in 4 years time. They had rucked up the crowd to the point that Shed 10 in Auckland was packed to the rafters for a week in anticipation of that one win to bring the Cup back to New Zealand. This particular blogger actually set up a Bring the America's Cup to Wellington which now turned out to be rather silly.

In the end, there's that saying don't count your chickens before they hatch, although for Dean Barker and his vanquished Emirates Team New Zealand, it was pretty much at a point that you could definitely see the leg popping out of the egg.

2005, Liverpool comes from 3-0 behind to win the Champions League

The greatest comeback in footballing history. Milan were 3-0 up at halftime against a Liverpool side completely at sea in the biggest club football match of the season, up against a Milan side boasting world footballer of the year, Kaka and many stars like Paolo Maldini and Andriy Shevchenko. Alas, 10 inspired minutes by Rafa Benitez's men in the 2nd half completely transformed the UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, sending the game to extra time.

A shell shocked AC Milan fell apart in the penalty shootout courtesy to Jerzy Dudek's antics and Liverpool won their 5th European Cup in the most thrilling fashion.

2004, Boston Red Sox comes from 3-0 behind to beat New York Yankees

Another defeat and another season under the Curse of the Bambino. Or so it seemed when the Boston Red Sox found themselves 3-0 down in the best of 7 American League Championship series of 2004, against their most reviled rivals, the New York Yankees.

But in 2004, things were going to be different, and the Red Sox rallied home to win the next 3 games and force a decider at Yankee Stadium. Like Oracle this year, the Red Sox looked the faster, sharper and more powerful team in the final and they romped home 10-3 to become the first ever team to go 3-0 behind in a pennant race to progress to the World Series.

How sweet then, it was against those bloody Yankees.

1981, England comes from behind to beat Australia in 3rd Ashes test

The greatest test match in history. Australia were in a formidable position in this test and set to take a 2-0 lead with 2 tests to go with England forced to follow on. Up stepped Ian Botham to score a magnificent 149 not out and give Bob Willis the chance to take 8 wickets for 43 as Australia were bowled out for 111 and England won by 18 runs.

It was the start of Botham's Ashes as England went on to win the next 2 tests and win the Ashes in 1981.

1976, James Hunt comes from behind to beat Niki Lauda

In the season now made into a wonderful Hollywood film - Rush if you haven't figured it out - Austrian Niki Lauda and McLaren's James Hunt fought tooth and nail for the world championship, although it was Austria's and Ferrari's reigning champion who seemed to have the luck of the Irish for much of the season as reliability issues and controversial disqualifications hampered Brit James Hunt's push for the title.

Then came Lauda's big accident at the Nurburgring in the summer which nearly killed the Austrian and saw him out of F1 for many weeks. Hunt made hay while the sun winning the Dutch Grand Prix and finishing 4th in Austria to close the gap to Lauda.

Even then, the odds were still against him when Lauda made a surprise comeback to F1 at Monza - Hunt's engine blew up then. But Hunt struck back and won both Canadian and United States East Grand Prix to set up a title showdown at Fuji Speedway in Japan.

Lauda, with fresh memories of crashing in the rain at the Nurburgring, pulled out early in the race while Hunt continued in atrocious conditions. Yet, Hunt still seemed set to lose the title with a late pitstop. A barnstorming run to 3rd meant that Hunt had won the title by a single point from Lauda in one of F1's greatest ever seasons.