Apparently if you insist on something strongly enough, it will happen.
US President Donald Trump is insisting that the counting of votes be stopped while he still has a chance of winning.
If only some sports teams could have just decided the game was over when they felt like it…
Socceroos v Iran 1997 World Cup Qualifier
We’ll get the most painful one out of the way first, Australia was 15 minutes away from its first FIFA World Cup since 1974 at the MCG.
Peter Hore stormed the pitch, pulled down the netting on one goal post and that really should have been full time then and there… no way the match could have been safely resumed.
ON THIS DAY in 1997.
That terrible night against 🇮🇷 Iran.
Remarkably, our #Socceroos have never faced them since. pic.twitter.com/cMIa6ddmZe
— Daily Football Show (@DFS_AUS) November 28, 2018
2005 Champions League Final
If you go 3-0 up in a football match, you should just be declared the winner automatically right?
Especially with goals like this…
Magical pass from Kaka and glorious finish by Hernan Crespo in the 2005 Champions League final! #football #legends #ACMilan pic.twitter.com/rLwbnJAE8s
— NO.10 (@no10store) December 19, 2016
2011 A-League Grand Final
The Mariners were on the verge of upsetting the then unstoppable Brisbane Roar, they lead 2-0 in extra time and the stands at Suncorp were quickly emptying.
For some that was all they saw of that match.
2013-2014 Premier League
Apparently Steven Gerrard meant his “We don’t let this slip from here” message to his team as a declaration rather than a prediction.
Turns out 2020 was not Liverpool’s first title in 30 years, they declared the race over in 2014 with matches to spare.
This DEFINITELY did not happen.
#OnThisDay in 2014, a Steven Gerrard slip saw Liverpool's hopes of winning their first-ever Premier League title fade away 🏆pic.twitter.com/w0ayWa8Nxn
— Football Index (@FootballIndex) April 27, 2020
2017 Champions League Round of 16
PSG won the first leg of this tie 4-0, no need to play the second leg, there’s no chance Barcelona will do anything back at the Nou Camp…
What. A. Comeback! 😲
Three years ago today, Barcelona stunned PSG by fighting back from down 4-0 to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
(via @ChampionsLeague)pic.twitter.com/q48xg32mhh
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 8, 2020
2003 Rugby World Cup Final
Wallabies take an early lead over England in the World Cup Final that year, that’s all I needed to see.
No chance England gets anything done in Australia with Jonny Wilkinson at the helm.
None whatsoever…
On this day in 2003…
Jonny Wilkinson kicked England to glory in the Rugby World Cup final.
What a day. What a tournament. What a moment. pic.twitter.com/Qb6nvmfreu
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 22, 2016
2017 State of Origin Game 2
The Blues had just crushed Queensland in Game 1 of the series and had a comfortable 16-6 lead at halftime of Game 2.
Series over, the shield is headed south of the border…
QLD win 2017 State of Origin and give a perfect send off to Johnathan Thurston @GettySport @GettyImages @NRL #origin pic.twitter.com/pyLVZVOIGH
— Ryan Pierse (@RyanPierse) July 12, 2017
2018 AFL Grand Final
Collingwood would never blow a 30-1 lead in the biggest game of the season would they?
Dom Sheed: "I wasn't meant to be on the ground."
Players and coaches re-live the epic moments of the 2018 AFL Grand Final. pic.twitter.com/gWJelRrbJa
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 6, 2019
2010 AFL Grand Final
St Kilda took the lead for the first time late on in the fourth quarter against Collingwood, that’s good enough for me.
No draw, no replay, the Saints won it with time to spare.
2019 Ashes Test
England had been skittled for just 67 in its first innings and faced a record fourth innings target of 359.
The victory was never on when England were stuck at 2/15, the match was done with and the players should have just gone out for lunch.
Sorry Ben Stokes.
Here it is. Ben Stokes' moment in Ben Stokes' summer.#Ashespic.twitter.com/K5sulZZrQe
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 25, 2019
Super Bowl LI
Atlanta was up 28-3, nobody had ever come from more than 10 points down in a Super Bowl before.
On this day three years ago, the Falcons went up 28-3 😬pic.twitter.com/1jzOPUeehN
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 5, 2020
Super Bowl XLII
It turns out the Patriots actually went unbeaten in the 2007 season, a late touchdown from Tom Brady to Randy Moss gave the Patriots the lead with just over 2 minutes remaining.
Considering it was Eli Manning on the other side, the referees just called the game then and there.
11 years ago today, David Tyree made one of the most iconic plays in NFL history to help the Giants dethrone the undefeated Patriots
(via @nflthrowback)pic.twitter.com/gjDu5p4nKT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2019
1992 AFC Wild Card Game
The Bills were down 35-3, game over, don’t bother finishing it.
Jan 3rd, 1993: As Bills QB, Frank Reich and team overcame a 35-3 third quarter deficit to beat the Oilers 41-38 in the 1992 AFC Wild Card playoff game. It remains the greatest comeback in NFL history. #Colts #Bills https://t.co/b80DC3AD5V
— Bills QB Watch (@BillsQBwatch) August 8, 2019
1986 World Series
Boston had a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the World Series, the Red Sox were close enough that we can just say they broke the Curse of the Bambino there.
Nothing could possibly go wrong from there.
On this date in 1986, the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs and the Curse of the Bambino lived on. pic.twitter.com/stYRftDkma
— ESPN (@espn) October 25, 2017
2004 ALCS
The Yankees are up 3-0 against the cursed Red Sox… no need to play out the rest of the series, just give it to the Yankees.
Game five of the 2004 ALCS began 15 years ago tonight and ended with the immortal words “AND HE CAN KEEP ON RUNNING TO NEW YORK. GAME SIX TOMORROW NIGHT.” Still get chills and I’ve watched it 20 million times (or close to that). pic.twitter.com/t5yyFWSxE9
— Red (@SurvivingGrady) October 18, 2019
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Bruins were up 3 games to 0 over the Philadelphia Flyers in this Eastern Conference Semi Final series, sure the rules say they need to win 4 games, but they were ahead by a lot already.
If that wasn’t enough, they lead 3-0 early in Game 7 as well, should have called it off then and there.
🗓️ May 14, 2010: 10 years ago…
ECSF Game 7: Flyers (+103) vs. Bruins
Down 3-0, Philly storms back and scores 4 unanswered goals in Boston to win Game 7, becoming the 3rd team (at the time) in NHL history to win a series after being down 3 games to 0.pic.twitter.com/Dto0D7a5FB
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) May 14, 2020
2016 NBA Finals
Golden State was up 3-1 over the Cleveland LeBrons, good enough for a title…
3 years ago today (6/19/16), the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a 3-1 comeback to beat the Golden State Warriors in The Oracle to become NBA Champions! pic.twitter.com/Za1rPM9Scj
— Everything Cleveland (@everythingcle_) June 19, 2019
1996 Masters Tournament
President Trump’s close personal friend Greg Norman would love to be able to just declare victory when he felt like it.
Remember the most famous collapse in golfing history?