An exciting season for Man Utd fans came to an unfortunate end at the hands of Villarreal in the Europa League final. Going in at halftime 1-0 down, conceding first before replying being a common trait, a quick equalizer had spurred hopes of another miraculous comeback win. However, it was not to be, as the Spanish club held firm in defense and Man Utd would heartbreakingly lose after a penalty shootout. Some felt it was what Utd deserved, having been in this situation so many times, only this time being unable to nick a winner.
It was a shame as they are normally able to turn on the style when they go behind. Having the previous form on many occasions, sometimes on the biggest of stages, fans were bitterly disappointed as Solskjaer and his team failed to collect their first trophy together. A lot of seemingly good progress and hard-fought results in the competition to get to the final was thrown away in a matter of hours. Yet, there have been many instances lately and in the past that let the fans know that Man Utd will come out fighting again.
The Comeback That Started it All
Things could have been all so different. In 1992, Man United had a battle with Leeds for the championship. Performing well, they stuttered around Easter and conspired to throw away the title. Losing at home to Sheffield Wednesday would provide a golden opportunity for rivals Aston Villa. Steve Bruce scored a late equalizer in the 86th minute. With the crowd whipped into a frenzy, the drama wasn’t over as Utd went in search of a winner. Injury time ticked on and Bruce unbelievably popped up again to seize a vital victory for the hosts.
This win continued Utd’s march to their first championship in 26 years and ushered in a period of dominance for both the club and manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. It had been such a barren spell for the club, it was a springboard for future trophies and a winning mentality began to set in at the club. If they let the title slip from their grasp, they would come back the following year even stronger. However, 2013 saw the last of their Premier League titles and the end of the tenure of Fergie.
A Nail-Biting Finish
In recent years, the Champions League has produced some classic games, but the 1999 Champions League final is viewed as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. In a tough game against German side Bayern Munich, Utd found themselves 1-0 down very early in the game and struggling. Yet things changed quickly with the final whistle looming and two superbly delivered corners by David Beckham changed the course of the game and indeed history.
After the equalizer was scored by Teddy Sheringham, Bayern’s confidence was affected and when Solskjaer scored the winner before the end of normal time, there wasn’t a person who could scarcely believe it. Leaving Bayern’s players devastated, Man Utd picked up their first European Cup since 1968 and completed the famous treble, having won the Premier League and F.A. Cup in the previous weeks.
Pleasing the Fans and Punters Alike
Man Utd has always been known for free-flowing football. The excitement continued this year with fans watching thrilling games and clued in bettors able to make a profit on Man Utd’s spirit and resolve to win games. Every online casino gives odds on football matches, with ht/ft selections being a very popular wager for punters. Offering high odds, you don’t need to hit that many to be successful. In the Premier League alone, Man Utd was responsible for five ht/ft turnarounds last season.
The fans were celebrating and online casino players were checking their balances as Man Utd’s style of play bemused everyone. Seemingly starting slow, it would take time to get in their stride. Alongside playing baccarat online, a lot of bettors used to Utd’s form stuck bets on at halftime if they had not already got involved at the start. Television pundits did not seem to be too enthused about their tepid starts, but everyone seemed quite happy at the end! Maybe the fact their manager is now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they have a flair for the dramatic.
