Come on boro!

In keeping with the discussion of top notch football teams on these pages, it came to my attention that Middlesbrough FC staged one of the most remarkable comebacks of footballing history in the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup.

After a 2-0 first leg defeat Boro were truly up against it, a plight which wasnt helped when Basle scored midway through the first half. (Aggregate score 0-3) This goal meant Boro had to score 4 because a 3-3 aggregate score would send Basle through on account of their away goal.

A slim glimmer of hope shone through when Mark Viduka equalised later in the first half. (Aggregate score 1-3)



Hope bubbled up when Viduka struck for the second time early in the second half. (Aggregate score 2-3)



Hope was simmering when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink "collected the ball 25 yards out and, with hardly any backlift, powered in an unstoppable shot." (Aggregate score 3-3)



Joy exploded when substitute Massimo Maccarone slid in the winner in the last minute of play. (Aggregate score 4-3)



Proper BO!

All in all a great night of european football and Boro play Steaua Bucuresti in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Maccarone completes Mission Impossible - The Times
Middlesbrough heroes step up to stage incredible comeback - The Daily Telegraph
MAC FROM THE DEAD - The Sun
SUB MACCARONE SEALS MIRACLE BORO COMEBACK - Daily Mirror
Maccarone miracle for Boro in UEFA Cup - Daily Mail

Thurs Apr 6 2006
UEFA Cup
Middlesbrough 4 - 1 Basle R

A Eduardo Da Silva 23
M Viduka 33
M Viduka 57
J Hasselbaink 79
M Maccarone 90


Bookings:
C Riggott 24
M Maccarone 90

Bookings:
D Majstorovic 52
D Degen 58
P Zuberbuhler 90


Sent off:
D Majstorovic 73