In Pictures

In Pictures: Greatest ever sporting comebacks

With Oracle sailing towards one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history at the America’s Cup, we look at other occasions which defied all the odds.

As the America(***)s Cup goes into a winner-takes-all final race on Wednesday, Team Oracle are sailing towards one of the greatest sporting comebacks. It would be a remarkable turnaround for a team who were at one stage 8-1 down having been docked two points before the regatta began. But can they do it? An Oracle would know.

From an American success (almost) story to a sporting horror on American soil. The (***)Miracle of Medinah(***) is fresh in the mind of any golf lover. On the final day, the U.S. led 10–6 but Europe surprised everyone by ending up victors. The sporting world had witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, if not in sport.

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American sports fans will remember the remarkable turnaround between the Red Sox and New York Yankees in the 2004 World Series. No baseball team had ever been down three games to none in the playoffs and come back to win. But that(***)s what the Red Sox did. Here former Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein (L) and manager Terry Francona celebrate.

The location was Istanbul and the Reds were 3-0 down against AC Milan at half-time. However, a heroic performance from Steven Gerrard saw Liverpool pull three goals back to win the Champions League. Red-iculous.

From one amazing Champions League match to another. This time the location was Barcelona, the year 1999, and the team Manchester United. Under the guidance of Alex Ferguson, United scored twice in injury time to claim the Cup, the treble and to cement the phrase (***)squeeky bum time(***) which was coined by their manager.

The turnaround wasn(***)t the most remarkable thing about France(***)s 1999 World Cup semi-final win, it was the fact it was done against the tournament favourites New Zealand. Despite finding themselves 24-10 down in the second-half, France outplayed the fearsome All Blacks to claim a 43-31 victory and a place in the World Cup final.

Ivan Lendl is currently best known as Andy Murray(***)s coach but he was a fine player in his day. One of his bravest performances saw his come from two sets down against John McEnroe to win his first major at the French Open in 1984.

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In one of the most extraordinary comebacks in Test cricket, India ended Australia(***)s record run of 16 successive wins. After following on, VVS Laxman (R) hit 281 runs and India went on to win the 2001 series.