Top 10 sporting chokes

As Manchester United start to feel the pressure after imploding against Fulham, we take a look at some of the greatest sporting chokes of all time...

AC Milan, Champions League final 2005

Milan collectively bottled it in the 2005 Champions League final. 3-0 up at half-time, the Italians had torn apart Liverpool in the first 45 minutes in Istanbul. At the break the Rossoneri were already joking that they had won the match, with Gennaro Gattuso smirking and waving to his family in the crowd. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard berated his players in the dressing room before inspiring one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time. All Milan had to do was see the game out, but in six minutes of madness Liverpool scored three goals. Then in the dying minutes Andrei Shevchenko, who could give a class in choking after this performance, was denied twice from point blank range. The Ukrainian then saw his penalty saved by Jerzy Dudek, handing Liverpool the victory.

Scott Boswell, 2001 C&G Trophy final

Mention the word Boswell to any cricket aficionado and they will probably shed a tear in sympathy. In 2001 in the C&G Trophy final, Leicestershire bowler Scott Boswell suffered a major case of the yips. Boswell completely fell to pieces, bowling an astonishing 14 ball over which featured eight wides, including five in a row. His performance ranks as one of the worst overs in cricketing history, with Boswell left a disheveled wreck of a man. All this from a player who in the semi-final had taken four wickets for 44, all of them England internationals. A month after the final, Boswell was released from his contract by Leicestershire.

South Africa, 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final

In what was one of the greatest cricket matches of all time, South Africa, with one wicket remaining, needed nine runs from the final over to beat Australia in the 1999 World Cup semi-final. In the middle for the Proteas was Lance Klusener, who hit two straight fours off the first two balls to bring the score level, leaving South Africa requiring one run from four balls. Donald - one of the greatest fast bowlers in the world, but not a man you want at the crease - was nearly stumped when Klusener miss-hit the next ball to Darren Lehmann at mid-on. With three balls to go Kluesener hit the ball straight down the wicket and set off immediately. Donald on the other hand, hadn't heard the call to run and instead chose to turn around and watch the ball. Three seconds later and Kluesner was standing next to him, Australia threw the ball to Adam Gilchrist who ran out Donald – who hadn't even made it half-way down the wicket.

Jean Van de Velde, 1999 British Open

Three shots up at the final hole at Carnoustie, surely Jean Van de Velde couldn't blow it? Surely the Frenchman would just play safe, reasonable, percentage golf and assure himself the victory. Did this happen? Did it hell. Van de Velde preceded to hit a wayward tee shot, before rocketing his ball into the grandstand. For his sins the ball rolled 50 yards back down the slope and into knee deep rough. He then hacked it into the water, and having waded in after it, the Frenchman decided to take a drop (the only sensible thing he did) before plugging it into a bunker. He must have been rather hot under the collar by the time he eventually finished the hole having seen his lead obliterated. He eventually lost a playoff to Paul Lawrie.

Greg Norman, 1996 Masters

Going into the final round of the 1996 Masters, Norman was ahead by six strokes and playing like a champion. It looked like it would take a miracle to catch the Great White Shark, but what followed was one of the worst rounds of Norman's life. The Australian shot a horrific 78 and lost to Nick Faldo by a whopping five shots.