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MIDDLESBROUGH v FC BASEL - I WAS THERE
by Mikeedee
I was there, I witnessed it all!!
I'm still basking in the glow. Drunk without alcohol. What an unbelievable night. I haven't long been home, switched Sky Sports News on, commentators words "... Middlesbrough pull off the biggest comeback in UEFA history..."
Talk about drama! What a scene to set. 2-0 down after the first leg, most fans in that strange limbo where unphased loyalty and realistic hope blend together so that the edges are blurred. Do-able we all thought, we could do this...
Great start, attacking from the off, The Yak almost pulling off a shocker goal after twenty seconds, ohhhh just wide.
Lots of fight in our lads, struggling to keep it contained, battling against some good ground play from the Swiss side. Had our right wing working hard for a while. Crowd were buoyant though, we're not scared, no nerves out there. Ref's giving us nothing though, couple of decent shouts in the box waved away. Still, might be do-able this...
And then they score.
Such a blow, gut wrenching, heartache. Ah well, some were thinking, we knew it was gonna be tough, and we tried our best. And it's good to see the lads playing out of their skin. We'll go down fighting.
Viduka playing his best ever in a Boro shirt, Rig and Southgate solid. Rochembach with some new found confidence started to set the midfield pulse racing, he was everywhere. Yak with a tight turn in the box, he's through! Ooohhh great save down to the goalie's right. Still pushing, Yak gets it again at the box edge, turns... Viduka's got it! Goooo.... YES! 1 - 1. All eyes look at the clock. Time for another before the break? Can we keep this pressure on?
Half time, score remains 1-1. Discussions in the crowd: "When did Boro last score 3 in the second half?" "They'll burn themselves out." "Too much to do now, but it's entertaining stuff". A sense of realistic defeat, brave lads, proud of the effort still etc.
Second half. Morrison off, another striker on! Hasselbaink. Taking risks now, but it's do or die. We're going for it! Surging forward again, it's all Boro this half. If we can only get a break in their defence... ohhhh great ball through to Vids again, takes it on the run, he's round the goalie... YESSSSSS!!!! FANTASTIC goal. 2-1. Okay plenty of time left lads, let's start again. The crowd sings up "Two more, we only want two more...". This is still do-able...
They're a man down! Hmm, tough yellow card that one, but it's his second so he walks. We don't mind that at all. Basel fans decidedly quieter now, or is it just the Boro being so loud? And we are! Queudreu picks up a knock, limping, painful, he wants off. Takes five minutes to get him replaced! He struggles on though, what a heart. Another striker! Maccarone this time. Go on lads!!
Ohhhhh my GOD Jimmy Floyd where did he find that one????? YEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!! Out of nowhere! Beautifully flighted curl into the top left corner from outside the box. 3-1 The Riverside erupts! What the hell is going on? Could we actually do this? Do we dare hope that our faith in the Boro might be actually answered? Another look at the clock; twelve minutes. It's do-able, it really is!
"One more, we only want one more..." The roar now every time Boro take it up to their goal is deafening. Gasps of disbelief as Rochemback attempts a clever bend to the far post but the goalie stretches low and left and parries it wide. Maccarone takes the corner, good one, but we can't put the final touch on it. Come onnnnn! Time's ticking down, desperation creeping in. They're camped out in their own box, we can't make the extra man count. No way in...
And then, and then...
On the box edge, tring to find a way past, side to side, back again, headers cleared, back in we go, box edge again. Wait, square ball laid off to Rochemback running in through the middle, strikes it hard, it's stayed low, fast, on target... oooohhhh the goalie's down there for it again. But wait! Maccarone picks it up, strikes it along the floor to the near post, hell of a tight angle, goalie still down from the last shot...
GOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
My mate almost passed out. I had to hold him up. While he recovered I saw Schwarzer make that crucial save at the other end. Get in you big Aussie! They have a corner... NOTHING! We survive it. And then the whistle comes from nowhere.
I still can't believe it. Middlesbrough FC - UEFA Cup semi-finallists 2006. How proud do I feel right now???
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