BBC News | Football | United crowned kings of Europe

BBC News Online: Sport: Football

Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Published at 21:12 GMT 22:12 UK

United crowned kings of Europe

United crowned kings of Europe
Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich

Two injury time goals from substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured the European Cup for Manchester United in dramatic fashion after Bayern Munich had taken an early lead.

The win, against a Bayern side who led for 85 minutes of the game, saw United obtain what no English club has achieved - the treble of Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup.

With three minutes of injury time awarded, United looked dead and buried, despite a frantic effort during the final quarter of the match.

But when Ryan Giggs turned a David Beckham corner back into the box, Sheringham steered it home to secure an unlikely equaliser.

The United fans looked relieved - seconds later they looked elated.

From the kick-off, United again stole possession forcing another corner, with Solskjaer striking Sheringham's header first-time into the roof of the net.

It gave United the most thrilling of victories - and came on the day the Reds' other European Cup winning manager, the late Sir Matt Busby, would have celebrated his 90th birthday.

Early shock

For the fourth time in Europe this season United had fallen behind, after Mario Basler fired home from 25 yards - catching captain Peter Schmeichel off-guard.

[ image: width=150]

The set piece had been conceded after Jaap Stam collided with Carsten Jancker on the edge of the box.

Dwight Yorke then had his first chance of the game - after a Stam header ricocheted into his path, but the ball drifted just wide of Bayern's left-hand post.

It started a good period of play from United, with Bayern defending furiously.

A well floated Beckham free-kick then put the German side under pressure again, but Lothar Matthaus headed the ball dead.

The game was undoubtedly favouring United, despite the early setback.

But Alexander Zickler looked threatening for Bayern up front and the counter-attack looked a possibility with United pushing up quickly at the back.

Nicky Butt then cleared up well in the box after a good run from Basler - but Bayern failed to make anything of the corner.

Andy Cole scuffed another half-chance on 35 minutes, before Beckham pulled United's third free-kick of the game to the left of captain Oliver Kahn's goal.

United come out fighting

Giggs forced an early corner after half-time, but Ronny Johnsen's header was too high to trouble the Bayern keeper.

United's best chance of the game so far came from an inch-perfect ball from Giggs, who found Blomqvist inside the Bayern area.

[ image: width=150]

The finish did not match the build-up however, with the Swede forcing the ball over the bar.

The pace of the match was electric, but United failed consistently to give themselves any clear chances at goal.

A tackle on Giggs by Steffan Effenberg brought the game's first yellow card.

A long-range shot from Basler then almost left Schmeichel with nightmares, but it shaved the top of his crossbar.

Super-subs

With the first of two superb decisions, United manager, Alex Ferguson, then brought Sheringham on for Blomqvist, with Beckham moving onto the right wing.

Bayern Munich then followed suit, bringing Mehmet Scholl on for Zickler, before the German side put together their best move of the game - only to be denied by a stretching Schmeichel who tipped the ball over the post.

[ image: width=150]

Jancker had split United down the middle, before flicking the ball inside to Effenburg who attempted to lob Schmeichel on his line.

It had been a frustrating 70 minutes for United, who had failed to put together any moves of real distinction.

In contrast, Bayern had numerous chances, putting together another fine move five minutes later, this time only to be denied by the post.

A 30-yard run from Basler found Scholl, who chipped the ball superbly over Schmeichel - but it rebounded off the right post directly back to the Danish keeper.

Ferguson then replaced Andy Cole with Solskjaer, who almost equalised immediately - forcing a save from Kahn at his near post.

With five minutes left, Bayern found the woodwork again - Schemichel beaten by an overhead kick from Jancker.

Minutes later, Solskjaer forced another save, but it never looked like beating the German keeper.

With three minutes injury-time awarded, the United fans had all but given up.

And when Teddy Sheringham equalised on the turn from eight yards, it seemed United had been saved, with extra-time beckoning.

Then came another Beckham corner, flicked on to find Solskjaer by Sheringham.

The Norwegian made no mistake, rifling the ball into the roof of the net and leaving the German supporters stunned.

Thirty-one years after Sir Matt Busby had last given United glory in Europe, Ferguson had written his name into the history books, with a side who will now perhaps be remembered as England's best.

Teams:

Man United: Schmeichel; G Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin; Beckham, Butt, Giggs, Blomqvist (Sheringham 66); Cole (Solskjaer 80), Yorke.

Substitutes (not used): Van Der Gouw, May, P Neville, Brown, Greening.

Bayern Munich: Kahn; Linke; Matthaus (Fink 79); Kuffour; Babbel; Jeremies; Effenberg; Tarnat; Basler (Salihamidzic 88); Jancker; Zickler (Scholl 70).

Substitutes (not used): Dreher, Helmer, Strunz, Daei.

Football Contents

Africa

Relevant Stories

European final - key moments (26 May 99 | Football)
Matthaus: United were lucky (26 May 99 | Football)
Barcelona: Quotes at a glance (27 May 99 | Football)
Barcelona: Victory in pictures (27 May 99 | Football)
Schmeichel goes out with a bang (26 May 99 | Football)
Are Man Utd the best ever club side? (26 May 99 | Talking Point)
Fergie modest despite victory (26 May 99 | Football)
Treble joy for United fans (26 May 99 | Sport)

Internet Links

Official Manchester United homepage
Official FC Bayern homepage

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section