America's Cup: Other great sporting comebacks

Updated

Team USA has completed a remarkable comeback victory over Team New Zealand in the America's Cup, winning eight consecutive races after trailing 8-1. Grandstand looks at some of the best Australian and international sporting comebacks of all time.

Kieren Perkins wins Olympic gold from lane eight

After just scraping into the final of the 1500 metres freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the reigning Olympic champion dominated the race. He won gold in a time of 14:56.40, with team-mate Daniel Kowalski claiming silver.

Michael Bevan's last-ball boundary

On January 1 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Michael Bevan welcomed the new year by guiding Australia to a last-gasp victory against the West Indies. With Australia chasing 173 for victory and needing a four off the final ball of the innings, Bevan duly delivered with a sweetly-timed strike straight down the ground.

Australia II wins the America's Cup

Trailing 3-1 in the 1983 best of seven series, Australia II won the final three races to claim the America's Cup, breaking America's 132-year stranglehold on the title. Prime minister Bob Hawke said any boss who sacked a worker for not turning up to work that day was a "bum".

Mark Coyne's miracle try

Trailing 12-4 with five minutes left on the clock in the opening game of the 1994 Origin series, Queensland narrowed the gap to just two points when Willie Carne scored a try that was duly converted by Mal Meninga. The Blues rallied their defence from the kick-off and pinned the Maroons down in their half. With 60 seconds remaining, the Maroons launched one last attacking raid. The ball travelled from the left side of the field to the right and play culminated in Mark Coyne slamming the ball down in the corner. Commentator Ray Warren famously exclaimed: "That's not a try, that's a miracle."

Bledisloe blockbuster

With time blown and the Wallabies trailing the All Blacks 23-21 in 2000, John Eales calmly kicked the match-winning penalty to retain the Bledisloe Cup for Australia. The captain is forced to take the shot himself after being informed regular kicker Stirling Mortlock is off the field.

Bombers bounce back

Down by a whopping 69 points 10 minutes into the second quarter, Essendon pulls off the greatest comeback in AFL history to beat North Melbourne by 12 points in their round 16, 2001 encounter. Full forward Matthew Lloyd booted nine goals in the 27.9 (171) to 25.9 (159) victory. The win eclipsed Hawthorn's revival from 63 points down against St Kilda in 1999.

International

Want more great comebacks and collapses in sport history? Below we feature some of the highs and lows from around the globe.

Headingley Miracle: England cricket team, 1981 Ashes Test series against Australia: When Australia declared on 401, England managed 174 in response and were 5 for 137 at tea on the fourth day after following on. But Ian Botham struck 149 not out and Bob Willis took 8 for 43 as Australia crumbled to be 111 all out in its second innings, handing England an incredible triumph by 18 runs.

Nick Faldo, 1996 Masters: The Englishman trailed playing partner Greg Norman by six strokes entering the final round at Augusta National and beat him by five strokes, firing a 67 while the Australian slumped to a nightmare 78.

Boston Red Sox, 2004 Major League Baseball play-off series: The New York Yankees won the first three games of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series before arch-rival Boston became the first team in Major League Baseball history to win the last four games to capture a series. The Red Sox went on to sweep St Louis for their first World Series crown since 1918.

Liverpool, 2005 Champions League final: Trailing 3-0 at half-time to AC Milan, Liverpool scored three times in six minutes and won the title on penalties.

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Europe golf team, 2012 Ryder Cup: With the Americans ahead 10-6 entering the final day's 12 singles matches, the European side pulled off the "Miracle at Medinah" with a record fightback for a 14 1/2-13 1/2 triumph to keep the Cup.

Stephen Hendry, 1992 World Championship snooker final: England's Jimmy White led 14-8 but Scotland's Hendry made an astounding rally, taking 10 frames in a row to win 18-14.

Buffalo Bills, 1993 NFL play-offs: The Houston Oilers seized a 35-3 lead early in the second half but Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich sparked the most improbable comeback in NFL history with five touchdowns, the Bills winning 41-38 in overtime on their way to the Super Bowl, where they lost to Dallas.

Jean Van de Velde, 1999 British Open: Van de Velde reached the 18th hole of the final round needing only a double-bogey six to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to capture the Claret Jug. But Van de Velde found the deep rough, the Barry Burn and a greenside bunker on his way to a triple-bogey seven and lost in a play-off to Scotland's Paul Lawrie.

Indiana Pacers, 1995 NBA play-offs: Trailing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers were rescued when Reggie Miller scored eight points in nine seconds - he hit two free throws, a 3-pointer off an in-bounds play, then made a steal on a Knicks in-bound play to hit another 3-pointer for the win.

Henri Cochet, 1927 Wimbledon semi-finals: Frenchman Cochet battled back from 5-1 down in the third set for a 2-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 Wimbledon semi-final triumph over US star Bill Tilden. Cochet, who also rallied from two sets down in the quarter-finals, saved six match points against countryman Jean Borotra to win the 1927 title.

Boston Bruins, 2013 National Hockey League play-offs: The Bruins became the first team in NHL history to trail by three goals in the third period to win the seventh game of a play-off series, rallying to beat Toronto 5-4 in overtime to capture the first-round match-up four games to three.

Miami Heat, 2013 NBA game at Cleveland: During Miami's 27-game win streak, the second-best in league history, the Heat's best comeback was at Cleveland, where the Cavaliers led by 27 points in the third quarter before LeBron James sparked a comeback win against his former team.

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