FC Dallas will be looking to make MLS history on Sunday night as they try to overcome a 3-0 deficit at the midway point of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Seattle Sounders. We thought we'd take a look at the best comebacks in recent Dallas sports history.
FC Dallas
This one was close, and we didn't have to look very far.
On one hand, scoring two goals in the final 5 minutes of extra time in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match-up against the LA Galaxy in August is tough to beat. But given the incredible parallel, this one goes to last year's come-from-behind thriller against Seattle in the same Semifinal Round that the two teams find themselves in.
After a 2-1 deficit in Leg One, it was chaos in the dying minutes of Leg Two. Dallas took a 1-0 lead (2-2 aggregate) in the 84th minute, which would've been enough to take the series on away goals if not for Chad Marshall and a 90th minute goal, seemingly advancing the Sounders. Enter Walker Zimmerman. A rising header just a minute later would level the series once again, 3-3, and send it to extra time and PKs - where Zimmerman scored the game-winning strike to send Dallas to the Western Conference Final.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers were the comeback kids in 2016 with an incredible 49 come-from-behind wins during the regular season, nine of which came when trailing in the 9th inning or later.
The best might've come on Sept. 13th (also a pretty good night in Frisco). The Rangers found themselves down 2-1 in the 9th in Houston when Rougned Odor struck out for the second out, but capitalized on a passed ball to safely reach first. Mitch Moorland struck out (which would've been the final out of the game if not for error) and Elvis Andrus came to the plate, tied the game with a triple and then scored the winning run on a Jurickson Profar single.
Dallas Cowboys
With just one playoff win under their belt since 1996, the Dallas Cowboys were in less than ideal shape going down 14-0 in the first quarter of a NFC Wildcard match-up with the Detroit Lions on January 4, 2015. At half, they had closed the gap to 10 points, down 17-7 and a Lions field goal in the middle of the 3rd quarter had the Boys down 20-7 until a late 3rd quarter touchdown from Demarco Murray pulled Dallas to within 6 heading into the home stretch. There, Dan Bailey and Terrance Williams led a 10-0 run in 4th quarter to win, 24-20.
Dallas Mavericks
When you think about the Mavericks, it's hard not to think about the incredible 2011 championship run.
In a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat (which Dallas led the series 2-0 before dropping 4 straight games), the Mavs found themselves in a 2-1 hole in the best-of-seven series before rattling off three straight wins, the last of which on the road in Miami, for the first NBA title in team history. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP with 156 points in six games, leading his team to the title.
Dallas Stars
It's an oldie, but a goody from our friends on ice. On Oct. 14, 1995, the Stars found themselves trailing 5-3 in the final minute of a game against the Boston Bruins at old Reunion Arena. Kevin Hatcher scored a rebound goal with 48.8 seconds left to pull back to a 5-4 deficit. With the goalie pulled looking for the equalizer, Mike Modano tied the game 5-5 with 15.2 seconds left. The game appeared headed for overtime until a blind pass in the offensive zone deflected off Stars' center Guy Carbonneau in front and into the net with less than 4 seconds left, capping off a 6-5 win for Dallas with three goals in 50 seconds. Watch for yourself the incredible 48.8 seconds of madness.
High School Football
When talking Dallas comebacks, it's impossible to not reference the greatest high school football comeback of all time - even though it didn't end with a win. On Nov. 26, 1994, the Panthers of Plano East Senior High School and the Lions of John Tyler High School (Tyler, Tex.) met in the State Semifinal of Class 5A Division II at Cowboys Stadium in Irving (Note: this writer is a proud alum of Plano East, although several years later).
Both teams had 12-0 records coming into the game and John Tyler held a 27-17 lead with less than five minutes on the clock in the fourth quarter. Two quick touchdowns opened a seemingly insurmountable 41-17 lead for the Lions with 3:03 on the clock. Plano East took the ensuing kickoff 70 yards on two plays, and recovered not one, not two, but THREE onside kicks - all driven down the field for touchdowns and a Panthers lead of 44-41 with 24 seconds left on the clock. Then, in a cruel, cruel twist of fate, the Panthers - lead in-tow - kicked the ball off deep, before watching the Lions' returner run it back 97 yards for a 48-44 win and the spot in the State Final.
Watch the incredible final minutes (and incredible commentary) here.
