5 times Manchester United pulled off a miraculous comeback

Manchester United’s remarkable come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Newcastle United may well have saved Jose Mourinho’s job. The Portuguese boss has been under fire for weeks now and when his side went 0-2 down to the Magpies inside 10 minutes, he was looking like a condemned man. But a three-goal fightback in the second half turned things around and handed the Red Devils all 3 points.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time that United have made a remarkable comeback in a game where they’ve looked dead and buried. Perhaps no other team are as synonymous with miracle comebacks as the Red Devils, and they’ve been involved in some amazing ones over the years.

Here are 5 other incredible comebacks made by Manchester United in games they were losing.

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#1 Manchester United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday – April 10th 1993

The race for the inaugural Premier League title seemed to be slipping away from United during this game at Old Trafford in 1993. The Red Devils were locked in a battle with Aston Villa for the top spot, and it looked like they were about to surrender valuable points when it appeared that John Sheridan’s penalty would settle the game in favour of the Owls.

But with 4 minutes remaining on the clock, United were rescued by a surprising source. Captain and central defender Steve Bruce scored with a powerful header from a corner, and suddenly the Red Devils were back in the game. For all intents and purposes, rescuing a single point would’ve been somewhat of a miracle.

Somehow though, United weren’t done. There had been tons of stoppages in the game – most notably to replace the referee, who went down injured in the second half. That meant time for one more attack – and somehow, a deflected cross found its way to Bruce again, and the captain headed home the winner, in the 96th minute for good measure.

Scenes of mayhem understandably erupted at Old Trafford as the fans went crazy – and United boss Alex Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate. United eventually won the league by 10 points, but it was this game that fans would point to as the turning point for their eventual triumph – a truly remarkable comeback.

#2 Juventus 2-3 Manchester United – April 21st 1999

Aiming for their first Champions League triumph since 1968, United were drawn against the tough Italian champions Juventus in the semi-finals and managed to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford. The final appeared to be within sight, but within 10 minutes of the second leg starting, the Red Devils found themselves 2-0 down.

Two goals from Pippo Inzaghi appeared to have wrecked United’s Champions League dreams for good, but the doubters hadn’t figured the insane will to win of Alex Ferguson’s side. Midfielder Roy Keane pulled a goal back midway through the first half, but that still left United needing at least another goal to qualify.

On the half-hour mark, Keane picked up a booking for a foul on Zinedine Zidane – a booking that would rule him out of any possible final. But rather than break his spirit, it seemingly turned him into a man possessed.

The Irishman began to boss the midfield battles, and literally a couple of minutes later, United attacked, with David Beckham sending over a cross that was headed home by Dwight Yorke. Suddenly, United were firmly in the driving seat and would make the final on the away goals rule.

There was still plenty of time for more action though, and on 61 minutes, Inzaghi had a third goal ruled out. Then, on 84 minutes, Yorke rushed through on goal only to be brought down by Juve keeper Angelo Peruzzi – but the ball fell to Andy Cole, who rolled it into the net.

United had not only achieved a miraculous comeback to make the Champions League final, but they’d also claimed their first victory over Italian opposition on home soil. It was a truly momentous night.

#3 Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United – September 29th, 2001

Roy Keane once claimed that Alex Ferguson’s entire team talk prior to a game against Tottenham went something like this: “Lads, it’s Tottenham....” This was of course in reference to Spurs’ apparent soft underbelly, but during this game, in the 2001/02 season, it appeared that Ferguson had got that idea very wrong.

Spurs raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, tearing United apart to send White Hart Lane into rapture. Goals from new signing Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege appeared to have United on the ropes, and a comeback simply didn’t seem possible.

But when the second half began, it was clear that United were a very different team to the one they’d been in the first half.

Ferguson made some key changes – sending on Mikael Silvestre in place of Denis Irwin to add pace to the left flank and replacing Nicky Butt with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, meaning United now had a three-man attack.

When Andy Cole scored within a minute of the restart, it was clear that the comeback was possible, and 10 minutes later Laurent Blanc headed home a David Beckham corner to make it 3-2. On 72 minutes the comeback was complete as Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored another header, but somehow better was to come.

On 76 minutes, Paul Scholes combined with Solskjaer to send Juan Veron through on goal, and the Argentine slotted home with his left foot. Finally, with 3 minutes to go, Beckham scored a right-footed goal to leave no doubt as to who the superior side was.

After the match, Ferguson refused to reveal exactly what he’d said to his side at half-time – but whatever it was, it had inspired one of the all-time great comebacks.

#4 Crystal Palace 2-3 Manchester United – May 5th 2018

United’s win over Newcastle this weekend was an amazing comeback for Jose Mourinho’s side, but it wasn’t the first time the Red Devils have pulled off a miracle during the reign of ‘The Special One’.

United were chasing the second place in the Premier League last May as it looked impossible for anyone to overhaul league leaders Manchester City, but when they went 2-0 down to strugglers Crystal Palace, it looked like they’d give either Liverpool or Tottenham a chance to leapfrog them.

Instead, some of the old ‘Fergie Time’ spirit kicked in during the second half. Just 7 minutes after Patrick van Aanholt had put Palace into a 2-0 lead, Chris Smalling popped up with a header to pull one back for United. With that, it appeared that the momentum of the game had truly shifted.

Sure enough, on 76 minutes a shot from Alexis Sanchez was deflected onto the crossbar, and the ball found its way to Romelu Lukaku, who hit a shot through five Palace players and into the net.

A point would’ve been useful enough, but Mourinho’s men weren’t done, and incredibly, with 91 minutes on the clock, a deflected shot from Paul Pogba bounced out to Nemanja Matic some 25 yards out, and he hit a dipping left-foot half-volley that flew into the net.

Post-match Mourinho stated that “I always believe we can win. I will be like that until my last day” – a quote reminiscent of Ferguson himself, and this win was worthy of the great man himself.

#5 Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich – May 26th, 1999

The Grand-daddy of all comebacks, United’s Champions League triumph in 1999 – their first for over 30 years – remains one of the most stirring moments in sporting history. After being a goal behind for 84 minutes of the game, Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils somehow found it within themselves to equalise in the 91st minute and then find an inexplicable winner 2 minutes later, as the game teetered on the verge of extra time.

United had gotten off to the worst possible start when a well-worked free kick from Mario Basler swerved around the right of the United wall and into the back of the net, deceiving goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. And from there – clearly missing influential midfielders Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, who were both suspended – United simply couldn’t seem to get going.

With chances in both halves few and far between, it appeared that the game would peter out with a 1-0 victory for Bayern. The famous Champions League trophy had even been decorated with Bayern’s banners when United won a corner and in desperation, even Schmeichel dashed into the box to support the attack.

David Beckham flighted the corner into the box and when the ball fell to Ryan Giggs, he took a weak snapshot that instead fell to substitute Teddy Sheringham, who swiped the ball into the back of the net. The Nou Camp was sent into shock, as it looked like United had managed to force extra time.

Less than 30 seconds later though, with 2 minutes remaining, United managed to force another corner. Bayern’s players still looked shell-shocked and this time the Red Devils didn’t even need Schmeichel in the box – Beckham’s corner came over, was headed on by Sheringham, and another substitute – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – reacted first to poke the ball into the top corner.

There was enough time left for the game to restart but Bayern’s players were so broken by the quick goals that they had no time to attack, and thus probably the greatest comeback in football history was complete. With their second Champions League triumph, United sent out the ultimate message – write them off at your peril.