Glory nights in Europe 5-1
5.
Benfica 1 United
5
European Cup quarter-final,
second leg, Estadio de Luz, 9 March 1966
The night George Best announced his genius on the European stage as
El Beatle ended Benficas unbeaten run on their own patch.
Against a team that had reached four of the previous five European
Cup finals, Best, ignored Matt Busbys pre-match mantra about
keeping it tight for the opening few minutes in defence of a 3-2
first-leg lead. Dancing to the beat of his own drum, he went out
and tore the Portuguese to shreds like a one-man school of piranhas
at feeding time. Within 14 minutes United were 3-0 up, two goals
and an an assist from Best. Charltons blinding fifth, beating
three men, was almost a footnote.
4.
United 2 Barcelona
1
European Cup Winners Cup final,
Feyenoord Stadium, 15 May 1991
Revenge is a dish best served cold, and while Sparky is not one to
dwell, the two-goal hero illuminated the Reds second triumph in
European competition. Hughes finally transferred to Barça after a
bout of intense soul-searching in 1986 found life tough with the
Catalans, but he made them pay five years later. His second goal,
from a seemingly impossible angle, is one of the picture-book
moments. I wanted to show the football fans of Barcelona the real
Mark Hughes, not the one booted out of town as a flop, he
said.
3.
Juventus 2 Manchester United
3
Champions League semi-final,
second leg, Stadio Delle Alpi, 21 April 1999
Is there a sweeter feeling than the thoroughly unexpected victory
that despair-to-joy moment when you realise youre clutching a
complete stranger like a long-lost brother? Travelling in hope
rather than expectation after Teddy Sheringhams substitute cameo
inspired a shaky draw in the first leg, Uniteds chances of
progression looked bleaker than a slate-grey Salford sky after
shipping two in the first 11 minutes. Luckily, no-one had told
Keano. This was Roys command performance. Having reduced the
aggregate deficit to 3-2 with a rare header, Keanes booking for a
challenge on Zidane made him ineligible for the final, should
United do the unthinkable. That season, of course, not doing the
unthinkable was well, unthinkable. Keane blazed away in central
midfield like a man possessed determined that if he couldnt play
in the final, this would be his legacy. Dwight Yorkes lunge to
meet Andy Coles centre meant United were in the box seat on away
goals. Yet it wasnt over. The Reds surged forward, striking the
woodwork twice before Cole pounced to spark scenes of mass
jubilation only matched by the same sweaty hordes 35 days later in
Barcelona. Its worth having grandchildren to tell them you were
there.
2.
Bayern Munich 1 United
2
Champions League final, Nou Camp,
Barcelona, 26 May 1999
In these days where anything goes on telly, its remarkable some
bright spark hasnt come up with Day of the Dead Soccers
Lazarus-like Comebacks! When, rather than if they do, all bets are
off for the No.1 spot. After the Herculean exertions of April and
May to secure the Double and reach the final after a remarkable
turnaround in Turin, Uniteds Treble chance looked to have faded.
Trailing to Mario Baslers freakish sixth-minute free-kick, shorn
of the services of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes through suspension,
United lacked a cutting edge. Still, two out of three: hardly a bad
return, and the prospect of a drink on La Rambla to drown the
sorrows. But wait, one last chance as the clock ticked over into
the 90th minute
Beckhams corner, Schmeichel lumbering forward,
Yorkes flick, Giggs, Sheringham in super-sub slo-mo cameo
1-1 and
game very much on. Having been read the last rites, we rise, the
ghosts of Busbys Babes on our shoulders, fittingly on what would
have been the great mans 90th birthday. We press once more.
Another corner
Beckham, Sheringham, Solskjaer
at 92 minutes and
17 seconds, its 2-1, utter pandemonium, and the hastiest switching
of victors ribands in football history.
1.
United 4 Benfica
1
European Cup final, Wembley, 29
May 1968
There is greatness, and theres Wembley 1968. Like the Nou Camp 31
years later, the high drama was saved for the closing stages but
then isnt that the point of the final reel? This night wasnt
about quality, at least not first and foremost. It was about
fulfilling a date with a destiny lost in the Munich snow 10 long
years earlier. Uniteds triumph on a balmy north London night
assumes mythical status on two levels. Busby was miraculously back
at the summit so nearly scaled in 1958, before the dream of glory
and a golden generation of talent was cruelly crushed. His young
tiros George Best and Brian Kidd, backed by the experience and
iron-will of Munich survivors Bill Foulkes, knee ligament damage
and all, and Bobby Charlton knew failure was not an option. And
then of course, there was the groundbreaking achievement of
becoming the first English club to master Europes premier
competition fittingly enough, having been the club who defied the
FAs pooh-poohing of the venture to enter it in the first place.
Alex Stepneys part, saving point-blank from the great Eusebio with
10 minutes remaining, should never be understated, but the enduring
image is of the clinch between old soldiers Charlton, Foulkes and
Busby and the exuberance of birthday-boy Brian Kidd, just 19, his
goal coming between Bests lead-restorer and Charltons closing
goal, his second. As Nobby Stiles observed: For me and Kiddo and
John Aston, the teams Mancunians, it was also a triumph of the
blood of our lives, we had felt the sorrow of the citys streets in
1958. To paraphrase that son of Salford, Morrissey, this night
opened our eyes: one on which the fallen flowers of Manchester
bloomed anew, a glorious, fitting tribute to the present and the
past.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=363293&page=1
