The unpredictable nature of sport is what makes it so entertaining. Nobody really knows who’s going to win and who’s going to lose until the final whistle blows. Although the favourites usually do endure, there are instances when a rank outsider comes from behind to pull off an unlikely victory.
To celebrate the fighting spirit of the underdog we’ve hunted down four of the best comeback wins in sport:
West Germany vs Hungary 1954
Image Source: thefootballhistoryboys.com
West Germany’s first-ever World Cup appearance was a rousing success. The new kids on the block made it all the way to the final in Bern. Their rivals on the day were the ‘Golden Team’ of Hungarians who ran out onto the field on the back of a 32-match winning streak.
Having trounced West Germany 8-3 in the first round, Hungary were the hot favourites to win the title. Eight minutes into the game the Magyars were two goals ahead and appeared to be bossing the match. In a spirited fightback that included a brace by Helmut Rahn, West Germany claimed the first of four World Cup titles with only six minutes to spare.
To this day the ‘Miracle of Bern’ is recognised as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history!
Paul Lawrie 1999
Image Source: golf-monthly.co.uk
In the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie Paul Lawrie was trailing by 10 shots going into the final round. In tricky conditions on the notorious links course, the chances of the Scot claiming the Claret Jug had all but disappeared.
A disastrous triple bogey on the 18
th hole by leader Jean van de Velde - who started the day on what appeared to be an unassailable three shot lead - resulted in a three-way tie. Lawrie held his nerve to win the playoff and the only major in his career.
The Scot’s victory at Carnoustie is considered one of the most unlikely comeback wins in the history of the sport!
Proteas vs Australia 2006
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The cricketing rivalry between South Africa and Australia is legendary. In 2006 the teams met at the Wanderers in the final game of a five-match ODI series with two wins apiece.
In a slug-fest that included a century by Ricky Ponting and 81 by Mike Hussey, Australia racked up 434 for 4 to become the first-ever side to score 400 runs in 50 overs. Despite a run rate of 8.7 runs per over, the South Africans were up for the challenge.
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Opener Herschel Gibbs’ dazzling knock of 175 runs off 111 balls set the platform for a nail-biting finish with the hosts needing just seven runs off six balls with two wickets remaining. The Aussies silenced the crowd in the final over by claiming the scalp of Makhaya Ntini but a crisp shot to the boundary by Mark Boucher took South Africa’s final tally to 438 for 9 with one ball to spare!
South Africa managed to claim the series in a match widely regarded as the greatest ODI ever played!
Springboks vs England 2018
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In 2018 rugby pundits believed a young and inexperienced Springbok side would be cannon fodder for the English. A sparkling three-try lead by the visitors appeared to back this sentiment as the Springboks were 24-3 down after just 15 minutes.
In a fightback that included four tries, the Boks clawed their way back into the match and at halftime were leading by a slender two-point margin. Despite two late tries by England, the Springboks held out for a 42-39 victory to record one of the most exciting comeback wins in recent rugby history.
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