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Comebacks are a thing of joy and Manchester United have been called the king of comebacks due to their knack for doing the unthinkable. The club has done it on numerous occasions both on the smallest and grandest of stages.
The 3-2 comeback win over Newcastle was another comeback that reiterated the tag of “The Theatre OF Dreams.” It served to back up the claim that when on song and unshackled, the team can be devastating. We take a look at the five greatest comebacks the club has witnessed during the Premier League era.
#5 2010-11, 4-2 West Ham
By 2011, Ronaldo had left for Real Madrid and Wayne Rooney had become the main man and he was the architect of this one. Mark Noble found the back of the net twice from the spot in what was another lackluster first half performance.
It was to be an uphill task but Rooney had other ideas. He first curled home a stunning 25-yard free kick before rolling back the days. He smashed home an equalizer after taking on two West Ham players with some exquisite ball control.
He didn’t stop there; he completed his hat-trick with a fine penalty after Upson handled the ball. Super sub and fan-favorite Hernandez made it four on the day.
#4 2001-02, 5-3 Tottenham
Manchester United were three goals down at halftime. Your best guess, United completed a memorable 5-3 comeback win. United’s defense was nothing to write about especially on the road in the early part of the season, so it came as no surprise when they were three goals down at the break.
Outscoring the opponent was the theme and so it was in the second half when the hosts were stunned in an unforeseeable fashion. Andy Cole quickly welcomed the second half with a goal and Laurent Blanc made two with a header. Van Nistelrooy equalized and United went on a rampage. Veron and Beckham scored the fourth and fifth United goals and an epic turnaround was complete.
#3 2008-09 5-2, Tottenham
And it is Tottenham, yet again. Darren Bent and Luka Modric gave Spurs a two-goal lead but United were unfazed by the challenge. United responded in stunning fashion with five goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo had become a household name after becoming the world’s best footballer. He scored the first with a penalty after Carrick was adjudged to have been brought down by Gomes.
Rooney scored the second before Ronaldo added his second of the night. It was four goals in 14 second-half minutes for United with another goal from Rooney making it 4-2 before old boy Dimitar Berbatov sealed the win and the game was done and dusted.
#2 2004-05 4-2, Arsenal
This was one rivalry that went overboard at the early 2000s. Players were always loggerhead –take Viera and Keane for example and Arsenal’s renaissance meant the two managers were also at each other’s throats.
Arsenal had gone unbeaten the previous season. Unbeaten in the league and were on a 49 match unbeaten run, amazing isn’t it? It was a feisty affair, Arsenal lead twice in the game and despite United having to play with 10 men for the last 21 minutes after Mikael Silvestre was sent off. A brace from the relatively young Cristiano Ronaldo and a deft finish from John O’Shea saw United end their rivals’ majestic unbeaten run.
#1 2017-18 3-2, Manchester City
The Premier League was at stake and if Manchester City won the game they would have been crowned champions on that very day. That would have certainly rubbed enough salt on the host’s injury and it looked like that was what was going to happen after 45 minutes.
City outclassed United in every department and scored twice in the space of five first-half minutes to take a two-nil lead heading into the break. Manchester derby has seen many great matches and this one was another frantic clash.
Pogba’s second-half brace in two minutes was inspirational and Smalling sent fans wild with a priceless winner making sure City’s title celebration was put to an abrupt hold.
