Friday, April 07, 2006
Boro 4 Basle 1 (4-3 agg)
The greatest game played at the Riverside! We have heard that a few times this season but, speaking personally, this is it. Deflated but not totally flat following the first leg defeat in Switzerland we certainly had it all to do and set up the team with an eye to doing it. Two goals would bring us level and into extra time, three goals would win it, but an away goal from them would leave us needing four and facing an almost certain exit from our European adventure for this year. It is hard to criticise players who played every minute of the match like it was the last but we were almost too panicky at the start - looking dangerous going forward but rushing a little too much in the search for the killer pass. Ultimately this led to their break and the dreaded away goal, coming from Eduardo, one of their most promising players from the away leg.Rather than let our heads drop, however, we steeled ourselves to one hell of a battle in the run up to the final whistle and desperation seemed to lift everyone's game - it was do or die, and slowly but surely we began to do. Crucially Viduka used his sheer strength to make our pressure yield gold at last before half time - a platform to build on, even though three second half goals without reply were still required. Second half and it was all Boro as the Swiss began to run scared, sensing the fire in our bellies and banking on the odds-on likelihood of being able to shut us down before the end. Our response was to bring on a third striker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and go for broke. Shortly after and hope sprang eternal as Yakubu's ball put through Vids one on one with the keeper - quick sidestep and a lovely finish brought us within two with almost half an hour left. Practically every ball was ours - we camped out in their half and they remained backs to the wall. On came Massimo Maccarone to make it four strikers on the pitch, and to say I was on the edge of my seat is a monster understatement! Time ticked, nails were bitten as shot after shot was saved, deflected or missed. Just as I was cursing their man of the match, the keeper, up popped Jimmy with the cheekiest of chip / lobs from outside the area leaving him rooted and the Boro fans in ecstasy, screaming "one more" with ten minutes to go. Unbelievable stuff. Then their big centre half (who looked like Frankenstein's monster) was sent off and we were almost favourites to progress! Rochemback, Viduka, Yakubu all missed chances and the nerves were threadbare when fairytale took over and Roch's shot was parried into the bald Italian's path for a narrow angle shot... tipped, going towards goal... IN!!! At which point I ran two full circuits of the bar I was in, kissing strangers and spilling everyone's drinks!
THE most amazing comeback I have ever seen was complete - forget Liverpool in the Champs league final, this was better! I have not felt such a surge of sport related joy in years - truly magnificent!!! One late corner and an all too near miss from the visitors to give one last heart in mouth moment that would have been too cruel for words. We did it, but more importantly we deserved it - we were the best team and proved it in the hardest way. And now a semi-final with Steaua Bucharest. No fear - is our name on this cup or what?! Mustn't get carried away but with football like this how can you not? Glory that I will never forget and a match that goes straight to the top of my list of great Boro games ever. Wonderful!
My MOTM: Every man Jack of them! Talk of lack of commitment buried forever - incredible team effort.
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Remember it well, the hairs still stand up on the back of neck when i think of it. i was there and it was a fantastic atmosphere.
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