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Right then! The launching of a new series is in full flow. Since everybody is coming up with their own unique series I decided I didn't want to be left behind...

Greatest Comebacks: Middlesbrough 4-2 Steaua Bucharest

by Salomon Gonzales (Senior Writer)

14

453 reads

History

September 19, 2008


Right then! The launching of a new series is in full flow.

Since everybody is coming up with their own unique series I decided I didn't want to be left behind. The title of the series is "Greatest Comebacks" and it goes back in history to find the greatest comebacks football has witnessed.

In this first edition, I'm going to take a look at a more recent match.

The second leg of Middlesbrough's Uefa Cup semi final tie with Romanian side Steaua Bucharest, in 2006.

 

Bucharest had won the first leg by 1-0 and left the tie finely balanced.

Before the second leg kicked off, the message was clear. Middlesbrough had to win by two clear goals in order to progress to the final.

It was a night when the senses were battered. The Riverside was full for the first time in 16 months, and the atmosphere was electric.

By the end it had sparked and fused as the ground erupted time and again during a second half when Middlesbrough conjured the sort of inner belief that even the players must have been shocked by.

The match started out with lightning pace, with chances at both ends.

Then things started going downhill for the Teesiders. Bucharest scored two quick goals, and went into an apparently unassailable lead.

Disaster had struck!

Adding insult to injury, 'Boro captain Gareth Southgate damaged a hamstring and had to be replaced.

Steve McClaren stayed firm and acted quickly and positively. He withdrew Southgate and sent on Massimo Maccarone.

Just eight minutes later, Maccarone started the fightback.

He received a pass from Mark Viduka and drilled it diagonally past Carlos Fernandes.

Viduka was denied by Fernandes in the 53rd minute, but 'Boro were now camped in the Bucharest half and playing urgent—but not panicked—football.

Still, the score was 3-1 on aggregate and 'Boro had to find another three goals from somewhere.

In the space of twenty minutes, however, 'Boro hauled back the two goal deficit through Viduka and Chris Riggott.

3-2 on the night but 3-3 on aggregate, 'Boro still needed to find that fourth goal to secure their path to the final.

The pressure was all on Bucharest now and they were struggling to keep up with the tenacity of Boro's play.

Finally, they cracked in the final minute of normal time as Maccarone was in the right place to head home a perfect far-post cross from the impressive Downing.

The Riverside exploded joyously, but there was still time for fear. Steaua burst forward and another substitute, Ugo Ehiogu, made an enormous block.

The final whistle sparked celebrations all around the ground as 'Boro clinched a place in their first-ever European final on another astonishing night at The Riverside.

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14 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. David James 9 months ago

    Best game I have ever seen live.

    The boro players celebrated in the stands after the match.

    The most unlikliest of match-winners too - I will probably never witness a game like it again.

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  2. Andrew McNair 9 months ago

    A fantastic game and a great series Salomon. I can't wait for more of the same.

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  3. Ryan Lynch 9 months ago

    Great piece, Salomon!

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  4. Jermaine Koko 9 months ago

    Just wonderful Salomon,

    I recall watching the game and the commentatory absolutely went mad, it was as if his life depended on the outcome of the match.

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  5. Joe G 9 months ago

    Good stuff, Salomon. Be sure to let me know when more of this series comes out.

    It seemed like Steve McLaren's strategy was to let Boro fall way behind in each knockout leg, and stage an amazing comeback. Worked up until the final, too.

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    • Salomon Gonzales 9 months ago

      Thanks Joe I will let you know for sure...

      Yeah but we all know Boro were never gonna beat Sevilla anyway. They were arguably playing the best football in Europe at the time...

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  6. Khalid Shakran 9 months ago

    Great piece!

    Thanks for shedding some light on this

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