Manchester United: United's five greatest games

Manchester United have been involved in some great games down the years. From coming back from three down against Tottenham to win 5-3 to smashing eight past Arsenal last season, the Red Devils have been in some classic encounters. 

Today Squarefootball writer Steve Coulter turns his spotlight on to United's five greatest ever games. 

Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1

1999 Champions League Final

 

"Football, bloody hell" was Sir Alex Ferguson's memorable description of this classic. Two injury time goals brought the European Cup back to Old Trafford. The Red Devils had ended a 31-year quest for Europe's top prize with

this awesome comeback.

 

The omens didn't look good when Mario Basler's fifth minute free kick put Bayern one up. United railed with Andy Cole twice going close, but the German champions always looked dangerous on the break. Scholl saw his delightful chip hit the post while Janker's over head-kick thundered against the United cross bar.

With time running out Ferguson sent on Teddy Sherringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjear. The England striker repaid his manager's faith in spectacular fashion.

 

With the clock showing 91 minutes Fergie's men were awarded a corner. David Beckham's outswinger found Dwight Yorke lurking at the far post. Yorke squared the ball across goal. Ryan Giggs got to the loose ball, but scuffed his shot. Always the predator, Sherringham reacted first to divert Giggs's effort past Oliver Khan.

With the wind in their sails United sensed blood. Their persistence was rewarded in the 94th minute. Another Beckham corner was flicked on by Sherringham. With the Bayern defence flatfooted, Solskjear smashed the ball home.

Manchester United had completed a historic treble. The 1998-99 season saw the Red Devils win the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League.

 

 

Arsenal 1 Manchester United 2

1999 FA Cup Semi-final replay

 

Maybe Bayern should have known what was coming. United had defied football gravity weeks earlier. Things looked to be going to plan when David Beckham opening the scoring on 17 minutes. The England midfielder saw his long range effort evade the clutches of David Seaman. The Gunners refused to buckle and were level on 69 minutes. Dennis Bergkamp was given time and slotted home.

The tide was turning and Arsenal turned the screw. Nicolas Anelka had a goal disallowed for offside. United suffered a further setback when Roy Keane was sent off. The skipper was shown red after receiving his second yellow card.

The sending off looked decisive when Arsene Wenger's men were awarded a stoppage time penalty. Referee David Ellary pointed to the spot after Ray Parlour had been upended by Phil Neville. The normally ice cool Bergkamp stepped up to send Arsenal through but Peter Schmeichel ripped up the script as he lept to his right to foil the Dutchman.

The two revived their private dual as the game entered extra time. Schmeichel brilliantly tipping Bergkamp's drive round the post. Inspired by their keeper's heroics, the 10 men kept their heads above water.

Then it happened, a goal which encapsulates the beauty of football. With 10 minutes of extra time reamaining, Ryan Giggs intercepted Patrick Vieira's wayward pass. Picking up possession just inside his own half, Giggs sped past the floundering tackles of Keown and Dixon. Having eluded these defensive giants the Welshman sprinted into the penalty area. David Seaman dashed out to confront the winger. Without hesitation Giggs unleashed an unstoppable shot which flew into the roof of the net.

 

 

 

Manchester United 5 Manchester City 0

1994 Premier League

The gulf between the two clubs was as wide as the Manchester ship canal in this derby. City were swept aside by Eric Cantona and Andrei Kanchelskis. The dynamic duo linked up to supply four of United's goals.

The pattern was set on 24 minutes, a superb through ball by Kanchelskis put Cantona clean through. The Frenchman brought the ball down under control before slotting home.

The favour was returned before half-time. Cantona worked some space on the edge of the penalty area. With the visitors' defence closing in the striker slipped the ball wide to Kanchelskis. The Russian's first time shot deflected off Terry Phelen into the City net.

The same combination sealed the points after the interval. Cantona flicked header released the right winger. Kanchelskis's initial shot was saved, but he neatly tucked away the rebound.

The misery wasn't over for Manchester City, as Roy Keane again exposed the Blues' right wing weakness. The United captain made tracks before squaring the ball to Mark Hughes. Sparky slipped but had enough time to pick himself up and make it 4-0.

Kanchelskis completed the rout two minutes before full time. Unsurpringly Cantona was his partner in crime. The former Leeds player picked up Peter Schmeichel's long throw and headed for goal. His immaculate pass freed the waiting Kanchelskis. The wide man again scored at the second attempt to complete his hat-trick. He became the first Red Devil to score a derby hat-trick in 35 years.

 

  

Manchester United 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1

1993 Premier League

 

Football is a game of ifs and buts, who knows what would happened to Sir Alex Ferguson if United had failed to deliver on that April afternoon. For 26 years the Old Trafford club had seen the league title elude them. Ferguson had been recruited in 1986 to end the drought. The Holy Grail looked to be firmly in the Red Devils grasp in 1992. However, a late dip in form let in Leeds United and Fergie's boys had to settle for the runners up spot.

 

History seemed to be repeating itself 12 months on. With a handful of games remaining, Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa had stolen a march on United. The home side desperately needed to beat Wednesday to stay in the race. Trevor Francis's side would be no pushover, the Owls included the likes of Chris Waddle and John Sheridan. Salford-born Sheridan appeared to have delivered the fatal blow on 65 minutes. The self confessed United fanatic scored from the spot after Paul Ince had conceded a penalty.

Trailing 1-0, United found an unlikely saviour. With one minute remaining Denis Irwin's left wing corner was headed in by Steve Bruce. The home side knew a draw wasn't enough and pressed for a late winner. The title chasers were rewarded in the sixth minute of stoppage time. A right wing cross was swung into the Wednesday box. Bruce climbed highest to plant an unstoppable header past Chris Woods. The joyous scenes round Old Trafford will live long in the memory as Ferguson dashed from the dugout closely followed by assistant Brian Kidd.

 

The last-gasp winner saw United reclaim top spot. Villa had been held at home by Coventry City. The dye was cast and Manchester United went on to win their first league title since 1967.

 

 

 

Benfica 1 Manchester United 4

1968 European Cup Final

Manchester United were crowned Champions of Europe following a dramatic evening at Wembley. Sir Matt Busby's side overcame the Portuguese champions to become the first English side to win the trophy.

The triumph came 10 years after the tragic Munich air crash. Eight of Busby's first team squad lost their lives in the disaster. Many of that legendary group of players were teenagers. Their supreme skill had seen them christened The Busby Babes. A decade on a new crop of United legends paid a fitting tribute.

After a scoreless first half, Busby's men broke the deadlock on 53 minutes. David Sadler's inswinging cross was glanced in by Bobby Charlton. Benfica were far from beaten and equalised on 80 minutes. The unmarked Gracia volleyed in from a tight angle. Eusebio could have sealed the comeback moments later. The legendary striker was put clean through and seemed destined to score. Fortunately United keeper Alex Stepney managed to save his fierce drive.

The Red Devils almost stole a last-minute winner when George Best shot into the side netting. Best made no mistake two minutes into extra time though. Stepney's long goal kick was flicked on by Brian Kidd. Showing great anticipation Best read the flick and held off a defender's challenge. The Irishman then rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into an unguarded net.

Kidd mate it 3-1 two minutes later. The young striker headed in a left wing corner. Fittingly it was Bobby Charlton who had the final word. Like his manager, the United captain had survived the air disaster. Now a typical Charlton goal would cap Busby's finest hour. Kidd exchanged passes with his skipper before cutting the ball back to the onrushing Charlton. Without breaking his stride Sir Bobby cracked the ball into the roof of the net.

 

 

Calling all Manchester United fans. Are these the greatest games in your history? If you think there's another game that deserves to be in there, let us know. We'd love to hear from you.