Manchester United - The comeback kings

6th February 1958, what a tragic day that was! Even today, tears roll down the eyes of a true Manchester United fan when he remembers that incident. So this is the perfect time to roll down the top 10 reasons justifying why United are the true comeback kings, setting apart the epic 3-3 comeback made by the Red devils against Chelsea. Here’s bringing you the 10 epic Manchester United comebacks.

1. WEST HAM VS MANCHESTER UNITED – 2010/11 PREMIER LEAGUE

The day – 02 April 2011, Manchester United had a premier league encounter against West Ham at Upton Park. But to United’s dismay, West Ham took a 2-0 lead at the break courtesy of Mark Noble’s two penalties in the first half, looking set to deal a big blow to United’s title hopes. It seemed as if United were slipping away from the tag of “19 times champions of England”.

But the second half changed it all. 15 minutes was all it took for United to make a turn-around, with Wayne Rooney involved in the thick of the action. Just Breathless! At first, Rooney curled in a magnificent long range free kick, thundering in a superb leveler and converted a penalty before United’s new signing last season Javier Hernandez, came on as a substitute and turned home a late clincher to cap another rousing fightback from the Reds. Despite the shock of falling behind in the first half due to the two penalties, United’s response was brilliant, with Antonio Valencia particularly prominent in some menacing forward probes. His crosses prompted a succession of scrambled clearances from the hosts, as did a Wayne Rooney centre which narrowly eluded Ji-sung Park’s attempted diving header. As West Ham’s defence creaked, United struck as lightning. Their travelling contingent went wild as the final score read the Red Devils being 2 goals down, wining by 4 goals to 2 against the Hammers.

2. MANCHESTER UNITED Vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – 2008/09 PREMIER LEAGUE

The number 2 in the list is an epic clash, this time at the Theatre of Dreams in Manchester against Tottenham. Darren Bent smashed home from close range and Luka Modric converted Aaron Lennon’s cross as Spurs dominated entirely in the first half. It looked as if a huge United defeat was looming up in the cards. But Sir Alex’s ‘hair dryer treatment’ in the half-time team talk was the turning point in the match that saw United coming down form 2 goals to beat Spurs 5-2.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Nani, who was unimpressive in the first half with Carlos Tevez at the break. In the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the spot after Heurelho Gomes was harshly ruled after tackling Michael Carrick. Wayne Rooney quickly equalised before further goals for Ronaldo, Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov secured the victory for the Red Devils. Rooney blasted home from outside the box after Rafael and Berbatov had combined to set up the striker. Finally, the icing on the cake was applied, after former Spurs player Berbatov scored the 5th. His initial header was saved by Gomes, but the Bulgarian stabbed home the loose ball to cap a remarkable afternoon, the final score being 5 goals to 2.

As said by Rooney :

What a game! To win 5-2 from losing 2-0 is pure class

3. EVERTON Vs MANCHESTER UNITED – 2006/07 PREMIER LEAGUE

To Goodison park next, and this time, Everton were up against Manchester United. Everton took the lead after 12 minutes, when Alan Stubbs’ free-kick was deflected in off Michael Carrick. After the break, United quickly resumed their offensive and Rooney, again, was denied after three Everton bodies flung themselves into the path of his shot. On 50th minute, Manuel Fernandes inflicted further damage upon United, as he smashed into the top corner to double their lead but John O’Shea halved it when he swept in after Iain Turner’s error. Phil Neville’s own goal levelled the score before Wayne Rooney put United ahead and former United player Chris Eagles sealed the win.

The glorious turnaround came when keeper Turner let the ball slip out of his grasp trying to pluck a routine corner out of the air and the ball landed at the feet of O’Shea to United’s delight, as he swept the ball home. And then seven minutes later, United were level after another corner when substitute Ronaldo headed the ball goal wards and Phil Neville put it in his own net trying to clear off the line. But the nightmare finish was yet to come for Everton, which came up 12 minutes from time, when they failed to deal with a cross into the area and Rooney set himself up superbly before tucking the ball away into the bottom right corner. Ronaldo had a great chance to add a fourth when he was clean through one-on-one, but Turner did well to block the winger’s shot with his arm. But United did score again, when Eagles raced clear and curled a low shot into the bottom corner. The final score thus read Everton 2 Manchester United 4.

4. MANCHESTER UNITED Vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – 2001/02 PREMIER LEAGUE

The news agencies quoted after the match – “Everyone was stunned after the game of two halves”. And to justify that Manchester United came form being 3-0 down at half time to beat Spurs 5-3. This match came after a disappointing week in Europe. For this Tottenham game, Manchester United were without Roy Keane, who was beginning a three-match suspension, and Ryan Giggs, who was injured. Spurs blitzed United with goals from Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege.

However the champions hit back after the break in a very devastating and merciless fashion, with goals coming from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham to secure their first win at White Hart Lane for four years. United’s fightback began after just 48 seconds of the restart. Gary Neville charged down the right and delivered a cross which Cole buried with a header inside the near post. Spurs were exposed again after 57 minutes when Beckham sent over a corner from the right and Blanc rose highest to head home. United were level after 71 minutes when a flowing move down the left ended with Mikael Silvestre, a half-time replacement for Irwin crossing from the left and van Nistelrooy scoring with a cool header. Veron again exposed Tottenham when he found space on the left edge of the area and drilled his shot into the bottom far corner. There was time for Beckham to rub salt into Tottenham’s wounds after 86 minutes. A cross from the left was half cleared to the England skipper just outside the box and he sealed the memorable comeback with an unstoppable drive past helpless Neil Sullivan. This match has been Sir Alex’s most favourite game so far after being there for 25 years at the helm.

5. BAYERN MUNICH Vs MANCHESTER UNITED – 1999 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

United got off to a terrible start when Bayern Munich went ahead after just six minutes. Mario Basler swept in a low, curling free-kick into the left-hand corner of the goal with Schmeichel rooted to the spot. United dominated possession for the rest of the half but they failed to test Bayern’s goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Came the second half and the German side sought to build on their lead, and looked the most likely side to score again with Stefan Effenberg, Mehmet Scholl and Carsten Jancker all going close as United looked to be badly missing their midfield pair Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

With the clock ticking past 90 minutes already, it looked like it was all but over but two United subs were still to have their say. Bayern failed to clear a Beckham corner and Ryan Giggs got a scuffed foot to it which landed at the feet of Teddy Sheringham who duly the ball into the net to the disbelief of the Bayern players. Incredibly, it seemed like United had forced extra-time with their late goal, but they were not finished yet. Less than 30 seconds later Beckham swung in another corner. Sheringham headed it on and super-sub Ole Gunnar Solksjaer poked the ball into the roof of the net to score the winner and send United fans into raptures.

It was then that Sir Alex made his famous quote :

Football, bloody hell!

6. JUVENTUS Vs MANCHESTER UNITED – 1999 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The match : Juventus vs Manchester United 2nd Leg, the first leg being a one-all draw after Ryan Giggs scored for United at Old Trafford. In Italy, in the 2nd leg, Filippo Inzaghi scored two early goals, and Roy Keane got a yellow card, which meant that he would be suspended if United were to come from behind, and march into the Champions League final at Barcelona. But Keane then put on a performance for ages to ponder upon, disrupting the Juventus midfield of Zidane and Davids, and got an all important goal off a header to get the United attack, jump started toward the ending of the first half.

After Keane’s goal, Dwight Yorke also scored off a header, and United now held the lead on away goals going into the second half. In the second half, Andy Cole was able to score, despite being fouled inside the box, giving United an improbable 3-2 victory as they went onto the Champions League final.

7. MANCHESTER UNITED Vs LIVERPOOL - 1999 FA CUP FOURTH ROUND

The year 1999 was THE Year for United. Ole broke Liverpool supporter’s hearts as he helped United go on to the next round of the FA Cup after what turned out to be an epic encounter between Manchester United and Liverpool. Liverpool went into the game with high spirits after dismantling Southampton 7-1 and their spirits were supposedly to be raised further as they took the lead as early as the 3rd minute after, Owen was able to score a header after Gary Neville fell asleep at the back post.

United battled valiantly to get back into the game, hitting the woodwork twice in the second half but it looked like Owen’s early header would hand Liverpool a win at Old Trafford. Come the 85th minute ,they were odds on to progress to the next round but United’s famous fighting spirit wouldn’t allow for it. A pinpoint freekick from David Beckham brought United’s lethal duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke into play as Cole’s cushioned header left Yorke with the simple task of slotting homing from close range and leaving the tie looking like it would go to a replay. Those days, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already had a reputation as being a lethal hit man especially from the bench and this game further added to his reputation when in the game’s dying moments the Norwegian nicked the ball off of Paul Scholes’ toes and wrong footed the keeper to send United fans crazy. Destiny quickly turned towards United with that epic win.

8. MANCHESTER CITY Vs MANCHESTER UNITED – 1993/94 PREMIER LEAGUE

One of the greatest derbies ever played. Manchester United winning this one was a glorifying example to it. United overturned a 2–0 deficit at Maine Road to win 3–2, with Eric Cantona scoring twice. Niall Quinn put Man City two up by half-time of this epic derby in the month of November 1993, before a goal from Eric Cantona gave the visitors hope after 52 minutes. As the minutes passed away, it looked as though it would be nothing more than a consolation, until Cantona grabbed the equaliser 13 minutes from time. Summer signing Roy Keane clinched a dramatic winner after 86 minutes to shatter City and United were on their way to a double-winning season in that year.

9. MANCHESTER UNITED VS SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY – 1992/93 PREMIER LEAGUE

United trailed Sheffield Wednesday after 86 minutes when Steve Bruce popped up to equalise. Desperately needing a win, Bruce produced a winner as seven minutes of injury time were played and a vital three points helped Fergie clinch United’s first title in 26 years – a very much recognisable feat under the reign of the great scot – Sir Alex Ferguson.

10. MANCHESTER UNITED VS BARCELONA – 1984 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS’ CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Sir Alex Ferguson is not the only manager to have inspired memorable Man United comebacks. In the first leg of this European tie, former United manager Ron Atkinson’s Red Devils lost 2-0 at the Nou Camp and few gave them any chance against a Barcelona team containing Diego Maradona. A diving header from Bryan Robson on 22 minutes brought a packed Old Trafford to life in the second leg and Captain Marvel meant club business again to level things after 50 minutes. Frank Stapleton popped up with the winner two minutes later to complete a remarkable comeback. United were 2-0 down in the first leg, but won the second match 3-0, thereby making an aggregate score of 3-2.

THIS SEASON : THE COMMUNITY SHIELD

The 160th epic derby was also a great Manchester United comeback this season. United were 2-0 down at the end of the first half due to the goals by Joleon Lescott and Edin Džeko. But a spirited second half performance saw United comeback to win 3-2 with goals from Chris Smalling and Nani (2 goals).

And that is why United are truly and will always be referred as the comeback kings of the footballing world. . .