The world of sport often throws up those amazing matches or races where a seemingly unassailable lead gets overhauled. To the victor go the spoils, but what do we recall of the individual or team that suffers the defeat?
Below I have selected my top 10 defeats from the jaws of victory.
With so many sports and events to choose from, I have narrowed the criteria to international tournaments or matches.
No doubt many will disagree but here goes:
10. Apolo Anton Ohno- 2002 Winter Olympics- Salt Lake City
In men’s short track speed skating there is no such thing as a certainty. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ohno was as close to a certainty as you get.
After dominating the heats for the men’s 1000m event, many thought gold in the final was a mere formality. Leading into the final corner Ohno and three other competitors were involved in crashes paving the way for Australia’s Steven Bradbury to take gold.
Ohno scrambled across the line to finish second.
Ohno went on to controversially take gold in the men’s 1500m final after South Korean Kim Dong-Sung was disqualified for blocking. Today, Ohno is the most decorated American winter Olympic athlete with eight medals in total.
9. Steve Davis- 1985 World Snooker Championship Final
World number one and defending World Snooker Champion Steve Davis took a commanding eight frame to nil lead in the 1985 final. Few would have bet against Davis at this point but Dennis Taylor had other ideas.
Despite being down 17-15, and at no stage on the final day being in front, Taylor took the victory and the Championship when he potted the black in the final frame of the tournament.
Despite loosing the longest ever recorded final in 1985 Davis won three further World Snooker Championships in ‘87’, ‘88’ and ‘89’ taking his total victories to six.
At 52, Davis is still ranked number 41 in the world.
8. Australia- 1981 Third Ashes Test, Headingly
Searching for an Ashes series victory in England, Australia looked to be on their way in the 3rd test at Headingly. Leading the overall series and having compiled 401 runs before dismissing England for 174, they decided to enforce the follow on.
With England at 5-105 a win appeared inevitable, but an inspired Ian Botham changed the match scoring 149. England managed 356 runs and then proceeded to role Australia for 111.
Australia didn’t have to wait long to regain the Ashes winning the 1989 series 4-0. Australia continued its dominance until 2005 before it surrendered the urn back to England losing the series 2-1.
7. Mikael Pernfors- 1987 Wimbledon
In his entire professional career, Mikael Pernfors of Sweden recorded three singles career titles. He is perhaps remembered most for making the French Open final in 1986, where he lost to world number one Ivan Lendl in straight sets.
At Wimbledon in 1987, Penfors faced former world number one Jimmy Connors in the 4th round.
Pernfors dominated the first two sets 6-1, 6-1 and was leading 4-1 in the third set when the wheels literally fell off. Connors rallied to win the third, 7-5 but in the fourth set Pernfors converted an early break and led 3-0. In what can only be described as one of the great capitulations, Pernfors lost 12 of the last 15 games to lose the match.
Sadly, Pernfors fourth round exit in 1987 would be his best ever performance at Wimbledon. Injuries in the later part of his career resulted in his retirement in 1996.
6. AC Milan- 2004/05 Champions League Final
The 2004/05 Champions League final was a game of two contrasting halves. With AC Milan Leading 3-0 at the interval, few could have predicted what would transpire in the second half. In the space of six minutes, Liverpool scored three goals to tie the match 3-3, the score remained deadlocked after extra time.
Milan eventually lost the match on penalties 2-3.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti summed up the game as follows: “We had six minutes of madness in which we threw away the position we had reached.”
Milan didn’t have to wait long to even the ledger when they met Liverpool in the 2006/07 Champions League final triumphing 2-1.
5. Greg Norman- 1996 US Masters
Anything can happen in 18 holes of golf and in the final round of the 1996 US Masters it did. Greg Norman had a commanding five stroke lead at the 54-hole mark but shot a disastrous 78 to lose the tournament by five strokes to Nick Faldo.
Faldo won his third Masters and sixth major in total.
Despite all his success and wealth, Greg Norman will always be considered by many as an underachiever. Remarkably Norman finished second in major tournaments on eight occasions but this one stands out the most.
Unfortunately, as we all know, Norman never got his Masters victory although he again came agonisingly close in 1999 when he finished third.
4. Jane Saville- 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney
A controversial entry as this defeat was by disqualification when Jane Saville incurred her third illegal gait (lifting of the foot) at her home Olympics.
Saville’s disqualification came at the penultimate stage of the 20km women’s race-walk just as she was about to enter the Olympic stadium tunnel.
In tears, concerned officials asked what Saville needed, her reply summed up her raw emotions ‘a gun to shoot myself’.
Saville went on to win gold at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games in the women’s 20km race-walk. She exercised some of her Olympic demons in 2004 winning bronze in Athens, but when asked about her bronze she said: “nothing will ever make up for a gold medal.”
3. South Africa- 1999 Cricket World Cup Semi Final
Technically speaking, this match was a tie but due to Australia’s superior net run rate Australia progressed to the Final against Pakistan.
South Africa dismissed Australia for 213 runs with Sean Pollock taking the impressive figures of 5-32. Despite keeping the Aussies to a relatively low total the South African run chase didn’t take off until Lance Klusener arrived at the wicket.
Smashing 31 runs from 14 balls Klusener took South Africa to the brink of victory requiring one run from the last four balls of the match.
Only Klusener will know what went through his head when he set off for that horror single.
South Africa has never really recovered from this heartbreak loss to Australia. To date they have not won, nor played in a World Cup Final, despite consistently being one of the strongest teams in world cricket.
2. Australia – 2001 Eden Gardens Second Test
The Australian Cricket team of 2001 is perhaps one of the greatest sporting teams of all time. Having won 16 straight Tests and the previous Test against India by 10 wickets they were looking to win an elusive series on the sub-continent.
Australia looked comfortable when they made 445 runs in the first innings and dismissed India for 171. Australia enforced the follow on and India went on to amass 657 declared, with V.V.S Laxman scoring 281 runs. Australia was routed for 212 with Harbhajan Singh taking six wickets adding to the seven he took in the first innings.
Coincidently, the winning margin of victory was 171 runs.
In 2004/05 Australia got their revenge against India winning the series 2-1. In the most recent series in 2010/11, Australia was defeated 2-0.
1. Bayern Munich – 1998/99 Champions League Final
The 1998/99 Champions League final for me represents the ultimate “I can’t believe what just happened? moment.
At the six-minute mark in the final Mario Basler scored for Bayern Munich and despite numerous chances they were unable to double their lead.
Inspired substitutions from Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer introduced in the second half.
The final was turned on its head when Sheringham scored in the 91st minute- but more was still to come. Solskjaer completed the fairy tale when he scored the winner in the 92nd minute. Despite being in the losing team Basler was named man of the match.
Bayern went on to make the final in 2000/01 where they defeated Valencia 5-4 on penalties. Bayern were also defeated in last years final by Internatzionale.
Aidan
Roar Pro
Totally agree- the game was truely befitting of a final. The roar epitomize a team that back themselves regardless of the situation.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I think the 2011 A-League Grand Final has just been added to this list. I have just witnessed one a comeback of monumental proportions ... Brisbane were 2-0 down in a Cup Final with 3 minutes to play in Extra Time. They equalise with the last kick of the game and then win on penalties. Today's game at Lang Park and the emotions at the final whistle encapsulate exactly why: Fußball ist unser leben!
jamesb
Guest
You have to include the 1993 Ladies Wimbledon Final between Steffi Graf and Jana Novotna Novotna was leading Graf 4-1, 40-15 in the final set. But nerves started for Novotna and Graf the champion that she was seized the moment, won that game, and ended up winning the next 4 games to steal the title away from Novotna. This match is famous for Novotna crying on the shoulders of the duchess of kent. (I hope I got the right royalty there) Match score : Graf Def Novotna 6-7, 6-1, 6-4. Now thats a legendary top quality choke.
Aidan
Roar Pro
Sheek, maybe CCM v Roar 2011?
Futbanous
Guest
Has to be up there for football fans,regardless of the fact that its ManU who did it. The fact that it was club footballs ultimate prize in Europe(therefore arguably the world added to the occassion.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Totally agree with your No. 1. I'd been following Man United since I saw them lose the 1976 FA Cup Final to Southampton and, over the years, watched so many other English teams win the European Cup ... but United would always stumble. I wasn't going to miss this game and awoke at the customary ungodly hour in the morning and sat alone in my apartment on a chilly Melbourne morning, decked out in my United shirt. When we went 1-0 down so early in the game, I thought "here we go again" ... To be honest, I never saw that ending in my wildest dreams. Bayern were cruising and hit the woodwork 2-3 times. When Teddy scored the first, my shouting would have woken the dead; when Ole scored the winner well ... My neighbour from upstairs knocked on my door as she was heading off to work and asked me to please keep the noise down when I'm watching sport ... I guess some people just don't understand the emotion of sport!
NF
Guest
What about the infamous 1999 NRL Grand Final when the Dragons were leading 14-0 HT then a comeback occurred and that penalty try occurred causing more pain for Dragons supporters at the time and a surprise Storm victory in there 2nd season. The biggest rugby league comeback to date involved my team the NQ Cowboys in 1998 the Penrith Panther led 26-0 HT then in second half Cowboys score 36 unanswered points to win 36-26. Now that's a comeback.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
In 1984 I remember seeing the bullies kick 4 unanswered goals in the final 4 minutes of play to snatch a 3 point win against collingwood, this was the famous across the goal kick from Gubby Allen that was marked by Beaser about 20 min dead in front, and he kicked truly after the siren.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
In 1993, on the way to winning a 3rd flag for Sheeds with a very youthful side, in the prelim the bombers trailed the Crows by something like 56 points just before the 3/4 time siren and ended up overhauling them in the final quarter. I can also recall the Bears, in one of Robert Walls' final games with them,coming back to defeat Hawthorn from a 9 goal 3/4 time deficit. Let's not forget that Collingwood losing the 1970 flag after holding a 40 point lead at half time was the start of the Colliewobbles legend.
mds1970
Roar Guru
In 2001, North Melbourne led Essendon by 63 points but the Bombers came back to take the game - one of the most remarkable games ever. Another one I recall was a shootout at Princes Park in 1989 when Geelong led Hawthorn by 55 points but somehow managed to lose. The grand final that year went perilously close to a reversal, with the Hawks well ahead all day but running out of legs in the last quarter and only just managing to hold on. In rugby league, Manly were comfortably ahead of Newcastle all day in the 1997 grand final, and for most of the second half looked like it was only a matter of time before they put the Knights out of their misery. But a couple of late tries to the Knights, finishing with Darren Albert after the siren, gave the Knights the championship. In soccer, a notable mention comes from a grand final in the old NSL (I think it may have been 2001 or thereabouts) where Perth Glory led Wollongong Wolves 3-0 at half time before the Wolves levelled the scores with an injury-time goal; and then after extra time the Wolves won the penalty shootout. And a cricket one from way back - the original Ashes Test in 1882. England needed 85 to win, and were 2 for 51, before they capitulated against the bowling of Fred Spofforth.
sheek
Guest
Great article. Unfortunately I can't think of anything to add at the moment.....
John Hunt
Guest
Port Adelaide vs. Brisbane 2008. Port up by 47 points near the end of the 3rd quarter on a wet night at AAMI Stadium and then lost by 20 points. Another one that's not victory but rather "Defeat from the jaws of safety" would be the Adelaide Test of the 2006/07 Ashes when England self destructed.
Aidan
Roar Pro
Thanks Apaway. Yeah as a Red Sox fan I am familiar with their efforts to break the curse of the bambino. I think it was 80 plus years since their last victory. So often they went agonizingly close but being in the same division as the Yankees always made things tough. It was one of the longest gaps between titles before the Chicago White Sox won the world series not long after.
apaway
Guest
Aiden, super stuff! The Boston Red Sox, the baseball team who one sportscaster famously said "could find the bone in a chicken fillet" were 3-0 down against the Yankees in their best of seven championship play-off series, recovered to win the series 4-3, then won the World Series for the first time in a thousand years or so. The US Mens Ice Hockey team - a team of amateur college students - won the Winter Olympic gold medal against Sweden in 1980, after beating the indestructible USSR 4-3 in the semi, sparking the "Do you believe in miracles?" commentary. England lost 1-0 to the USA in the 1950 Football World Cup, a result so unlikely, news services round the world assumed the score had been misprinted and England had actually won 10-1. Leeds United, reigning FA Cup holders, league leaders and one of the best sides in Europe, were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup final. Argentina, reigning World Champions, were thrashed 4-1 by a footballing minnow of a country in a 1988 tournament called the Bicentennial Gold Cup. Mike Tyson, "Tha Baddest Man On Da Planet", undefeated, untouchable heavyweight boxing champ, was knocked out by some journeyman called James Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990 in a world title fight so seemingly mismatched some TV companies only booked enough satellite time to cover the first two rounds.
Jason Cave
Guest
The recent England-South Africa WC game is a perfect example of 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory'. South Africa dismiss England for 171- a gettable target even though the wicket was crumbling. South Africa somehow in the middle stages lost 4/3, and end up losing the game by 6 runs.
Fivehole
Guest
South Africa vs England, World cup 2011.
Aidan
Roar Pro
Talk about match fixing, that japan all blacks game was questionable come to think of it.
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
Over the past week the England v Ireland game seems a perfect example, thinking back further, in cricket, in 1984 at Old Trafford, England got the mighty West Indies to 7 for 102, none of the 7 batters dismissed to that point had reached double figures (a combined tally of 32 between them). England completely on top, just needed to wrap up the tail (and or remove Viv RIchards). Alas for the Poms, they didn't manage to remove Richards who went on to 189 not out, Baptiste (26) provided support for a 59 run partnership, and then an unbroken last wicket stand of 106 with Holding (12). The shellshocked Poms managed only 168 off 50 falling 104 runs short. A different example as the turning point happened in the first innings - however, at 7-102 the Poms must've thought the hard work was near enough done.
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
The Neale Daniher game as you mention, or back to '76 was it for the Malcolm Blight game getting up over Carlton with 3 goals to himself in the last few minutes. Collingwood made an era of it in GF's, 1966, 1970 and 1979 in particular. North v Ess 10 years back when we were up by 12 goals midway through the 2nd qtr and still went down. Essendon managed to grab defeat firmly from the jaws of victory in 1999 prelim.....that and the Fraser Brown tackle.
Jason Cave
Guest
In 1984 Hawthorn were up by 23 points at 3/4 time of the 1984 grand final. Essendon slammed home 9.6 to win by 24 points and win their first flag since 1965. And speaking about the Bombers, what about the Round 19, 1981 game against Carlton. The Blues were ahead by 26 points, 20 min into the last qtr. Carlton skipper Mike Fitzpatrick took a mark, but was penalised by umpire Ian Robinson for time-wasting. The game then swung dramatically, Essendon's Neale Daniher kicked 4 goals to steer the Bombers to an unbelievable 1-point win.