The 1999 European Cup Final

26th May 1999 Nou Camp Barcelona

Manchester United
2

Bayern Munich
1

Sheringham 90, Solskjaer  90

Basler 5

"The Miracle of the Nou Camp"

The most dramatic European Cup final victory of all-time clinched magnificent Manchester United the unprecedented "Treble" and created the most memorable two minutes in club football history.With 90 minutes on the clock, United trailed Bayern Munich 1-0. All was lost, United had'nt played well and the illusive equaliser seemed a million miles a way. The United fans in the Nou Camp and around the entire world watched in despair as the dream slipped away.

Slowly there was the depressing realisation that it was all over. The Treble could not be done, Alex Ferguson would sadly, probably, never win the European Cup now after this setback. The Bayern end of the Nou Camp was in party mood, a confident noise was building as they prepared to celebrate. A dramatic camera shot on television showed Alex Ferguson standing barking orders, a lone figure against the towering backdrop of the 3 massive tiers of fans in the Nou Camp. It almost emphasised the size of the task he and his team faced, United were struggling against towering odds.His great team had run out of steam, it was a bridge too far.

Yet, by 93 minutes the final whistle had blown and Manchester United were the champions of Europe having unbelievably won 2-1, both goals scored by substitutes Sheringham and Solskjaer. The United fans resigned to defeat, now found themselves experiencing the sort of footballing utopia that confirms this game the greatest in the world and Manchester United the greatest team in the world.

It was too much to take in for both sets of fans and players. United fans were delerious yes, but also stunned by it all,as if they were in some bizzarre dream in which reality had gone out the window. "It was as if something supernatural had happened" commented Gary Neville afterwards. "I saw the cup on its way down with Bayern's colours on it.Yet two minutes later it was ours" said David Beckham. Perhaps that image motivated him to win the corner that led to the winning goal?

Amazingly the UEFA President missed both goals, given he was on his way down to present the cup when United equalised and was on his way back to his seat when they scored the winner.Also, United legend George Best left the stadium early, rather than having to witness his team's painful failure. Who knows how many at home switched off the televison and missed the unforgettable finale.

Some fans thought that the late Sir Matt Busby looking down on it all, had some hand in it. As if he'd looked at clock on 90 minutes and said "I'm not having this on my birthday" and had a few words with the big man in white to sort things out. When the whistle went it was hard to believe that Manchester United were champions of Europe and that Peter Schmeichel would be going up to get the cup.When your team is losing in injury time the best you can hope for is an equaliser and extra-time, victory is just unthinkable.

Bayern's fans were in stunned silence, their world had collapsed in 2 minutes 58 seconds from Sheringham's goal to the final whistle. Bayern players lay on the pitch some like Jancker and Kuffour in tears others like Matthaus staring numbly.For the first time in years it was the Germans tasting bitter defeat at the hands of an English team. The United players by contrast were dancing around the pitch on cloud nine. For Solskjaer, a place in history, Sheringham had won it all, Yorke, Stam and Blomqvist had done a treble in their first season, Beckham had shown his doubters and haters, while Peter Schmeichel would leave United on the highest pinnacle of all, as captain of the kings of Europe.

The game itself had an added background.It was played on what would have been Sir Matt Busby's 90th birthday, it was to be Peter Schmeichel's last ever game for Manchester United and it was against a team from Munich, a place forever in Manchester United history.Two of United's finest players Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended leaving Alex Ferguson with a midfield headache.The game on the whole was not a classic, United seemed to have saved their worst game of the season for the most important one.

Basler scored on 5 minutes from a free kick and for the next 85 minutes United huffed and puffed trying to find an equaliser against a frustrating Bayern defensive display. Sheringham came on as a substitute on 67 minutes, Scholl hit the United bar for Bayern with a clever lob on 78 minutes while Jancker hit the United post with an overhead kick on 83. United were on the edge of an abyss, had either chance gone in they would have been dead and buried. However, the Germans seemed destined not to have any luck on this night. In the meantime United had brought on substitute Solskjaer while the Germans took off arguably their two most influential players, Basler and Matthaus and tried to kill the game by shutting up shop. They would live to regret those decisions. For then, suddenly in the last 5 minutes United created chances. Teddy Sheringham's header.......saved, Dwight Yorke.......miskicked in front of goal, Ole Solskjaer's shot......saved.

With 90 minutes gone, Gary Neville won a corner which Effenberg must now wish he'd never needlessly cleared. Peter Schmeichel caused total chaos in the box. The Germans scrambled but failed to clear. It fell to Ryan Giggs who hit a low drive from the edge of the area which Teddy Sheringham connected with, side-footing home from six yards. With the Germans reeling United sensed their destiny was taking shape. David Beckham won another United corner and the roar of the United fans went up. Sheringham rose and met it with a headed flick-on down into the six yard area. And there, was an unmarked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, to hook the ball into the roof of the net with his outstretched right foot.

There was barely time to kick off, as Bayern launched an aimless ball into the United box. On 93 minutes and 33 seconds the referee blew for full-time and that was it, United had sensationally come back from the dead to win. Alex Ferguson's two inspired substitutions changed the course of English football history forever. Peter Schmeichel's United career ended in him going up in despair for a corner, and minutes later lifting European football's most famous trophy, as captain of the history making European champions. It does'nt get any more dramatic or better than that.

Alex Ferguson summed it all up."The most important factor was the spirit of the team, they just never give in, they don't know how to. A manager can talk about tactics, but if the players can't bring that inner beast out of them then he's wasting his time. Well, they've got that beast inside them and found it when it mattered. People will never forget this team, my 94 Double winning side had a mental toughness about them but this crop are the best, they have proved that.....they are Legends".

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