Thursday, October 28, 2010

Champions League classics - Bayern v Man United

It was the dramatic culmination to what had already been a fantastic season for Manchester United.

A goal down in the dying seconds of a Champions League final, they somehow managed to pull away from the jaws of defeat and secure a scarcely believable victory.
United went into the game at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium without influential midfielders Paul Scholes and Roy Keane who had both picked up yellow cards in the semi-final. Peter Schmeichel, making his last appearance for the club, was made captain in Keane's absence.

One of the first things he had to do however was pick the ball out of the net as their opponents Bayern Munich took the lead after just six minutes. Carsten Jancker was fouled just outside the penalty area and Mario Basler produced one of his Champions League specials, curling the ball around the wall and past a stranded Schmeichel.

United rallied after that early setback but struggled to break down a resolute and typically organised German defence, meaning Bayern held onto their lead into the break.

Bayern started the second half the brighter side with Basler they key influential force, United were huffing and puffing but couldn't find a goal. In response Alex Ferguson threw on Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to try and grab an equaliser but it was Bayern who came closest when Jancker hit the bar with an overhead kick. That was, however, until injury time.

With Bayern fans counting down the clock a David Beckham corner wasn't properly cleared and Ryan Giggs forced the ball back into the penalty area where Sheringham swept home to seemingly force extra time. But United weren't done there, 30 seconds after the re-start they won another corner, again taken by Beckham, that was flicked on by Sheringham for Solskjaer to divert it into the net and send United into dreamland. The Bayern players could barely carry on such was their devastation so the remaining second were quickly played out, handing United their second European Cup in truly breathtaking fashion. They had defied all Champions League predictions.

The result completed a glorious treble for the Red Devils after winning the Premier League and FA Cup earlier in the season. Today the class of 99 is considered one of the finest in the club's history.

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