Everybody loves a good comeback. Of course fans want to see their team be at the top and win trophies and tournaments but even the most casual fans will agree that watching a come-from-behind victory is as exhilarating as a victory.
So here are the top 5 sporting moments that have you wondering ”Did I really see that?”
5.Muhammad Ali
Ali refused to be inducted into the US Army during the Vietnam War in 1966.Therefore the then world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was effectively banned from boxing for three years as various sanctioning bodies refused across the United States refused to grant him a license.
Ali spent three of his peak years fighting for racial discrimination in US and across the globe. In 1971 he got a chance to get back in the ring but lost his unbeaten status in a fight known as the ‘Fight of the Century.’
In 1974,Ali, who was now 32 was given another chance to reclaim his title.At the age Ali was clearly slower and less athletic than when he was in his 20s and had all odds stacked against him,but Ali then pulled of one of the great upsets by delivering a knockout and winning the title back.
4.Indian Cricket Team,2001 Kolkata Test
The all-conquering Australian side landed in India with an aim to win a Test series in India after nearly 30 years.With 15 wins on the trot and a struggling Indian side made the Aussies the firm favourites. A huge win in the first test further proved those claims.
After the first test their were clear signs that India wont be able to stop the Australian juggernaut.In the second test Australia won the toss and batted first and put a score of 445 on the board.Indian batting collapsed which forced the Australian captain to follow on.
The real magic was woven on the 4th day when Dravid and Laxman put up a partnership of 296, batting the whole day.This led to Australia chasing 384 on the last day.India was suddenly lifted from losing the game to salvaging a draw, but Indian bowlers had other plans as they picked wickets in quick succession to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.
3.Jenson Button, 2011 Canadian Gran Prix
On race day heavy rain clouds saturated the circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The race started behind the safety car. The race leader Sebastian Vettel built a lead until.
a second safety car appeared caused by the clash between teammates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.The race was stopped due to increasingly heavy rain.Once it started again after two hours but Button was involved in another collision on Lap 37 due to which he received a penalty putting him in last place.
Over the remainder of the race Jenson Button moved from 21st to 1st place making the move for first on the last lap and winning the race.
2.Niki Lauda
Niki Lauda will be remembered for arguably the most courageous comeback in sporting history.During the 1976 German Grand Prix, Lauda hit the wall and crashed his car in heavy rain conditions. Lauda was stuck in the car which had become an inferno ball.He inhaled hot toxic gases that damaged his lungs and blood.At the hospital he lapses into a coma.His condition was declared so bad that a priest even performed the last rites.
Nonetheless Lauda returned to racing just six weeks after the incident having his face covered with bandages. Lauda missed only two races and went on to win two more championships after his remarkable comeback.
1.Liverpool, Champions League 2005
The Champions League final of 2005 will forever be remembered as one of the all-time great games in the history of football.AC Milan travelled to Istanbul as favourites to win the trophy.They justified this claim by taking a virtually unassailable lead of 3-0 at half time.
Everyone assumed that the game was done and dusted, but Captain Gerrard and Liverpool had other plans.Liverpool came into the second half roaring and scored thrice in the span of six minutes to take the game into a penalty shoot out.Liverpool got the better of Milan in the shoot out to win their 5th European.
title and complete the greatest sporting comeback.
Behind Every Athlete 