Graz, Austria – Wetin dem call am? Body don hot for Sturm Graz as dem dey face FK Bodø/Glimt for Champions League quaters. After dem collect 0:5 for the first match, e no dey easy to talk say dem fit come back. But, Naija people sabi say hope dey die last (and sometimes e go just dey hang for the edge).
Make we carry our mind go back, e get one time wey Rapid Wien show say even forget body fit rise again. Na 68 years ago, dem dey tangle with AC Milan like am dey do Jaga Jaga cosplay. After dem jam severe 1:4 for di first leg, the second leg for Praterstadion (now Ernst-Happel-Stadion) turn wahala when dem come turn am around with bragging rights, winning 5:2. No be small wah!
But e no end there, because dem need play decision match wey go take am to Zurich. For there, Bean put Milan for front but Happel no gree make dem rest. He go step up with one penalty wey go rescue Rapid. Milan try comot with goals, but no be small wah as dem no fit hold dem back. Eventually, Bean come jam double as dem crown the night like king.
Fast forward to March 20, 1985, as Rapid again dey try rise like phoenix from di ash. Back den, Dynamo Dresden dey run dem down with 3:0 lead in di first leg. But for di second leg, e be like say dem pop bottle of sweet palm wine and change di game, turning di match to “Wunder von Hütteldorf.” E be like film! Pacult turn serious with a rebound penalty, Lainer join body, and before dem know am, Rapid score 5 goals. After dem dance to finals, but Everton kolo dem down.
No be only Rapid dey shine for European night o. Austria Wien dey flex muscles too. In 1988/89 season, dem jam Vilnius and Dem start with 0:2 wahala. But for di second leg, dem come change di story as Prohaska no carry last as he lead dem to 5:2 victory, all the way jam three players from di opponent after dem don win. Talk about shopping spree!
As if say na dem dey no know wetin dey happen, Austria Salzburg dey also shake body. They jam Sporting Lisbon for UEFA Cup and lose away. But small time, dem come go back home, Lainer go slot one goal for dem as dem move to overtime and eventually win, granting dem cash treat and sweet bonus. Everybody dey rejoice for Salzburg, but Sporting coach go dey top of the wahala when dem sack am and his sidekick Mourinho.
No forget di classic Rapid meet Sporting occasion where dem turn di table again. After losing di first leg, dem turn up sabi and pull a solid win. No be joke! Di ground dey shake with support and before you know am, dem dey march to victory again.
Now, we dey watch as Sturm Graz dey battle di odds. A 5-goal comeback no don happen before but maybe, just maybe, dem fit pull miracle if dem fit channel di spirit of all these legends wey don come before. Because in football, as dem dey talk, anything fit happen and sometimes, na better story dey come from di most unlikely outcomes. Hope no gree die o!
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