United escape to victory

BARCELONA, MAY 27: Manchester United staged one of the most remarkable escape acts in soccer history with two goals deep into injury time...

BARCELONA, MAY 27: Manchester United staged one of the most remarkable escape acts in soccer history with two goals deep into injury time to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in yesterday8217;s UEFA Cup final, putting the club back atop European football after their only other win of the coveted trophy, in 1968.

The German side, leaders from the sixth minute through a direct free-kick from Mario Basler, were only seconds away from winning the cup for the fourth time and the first time since 1976, when substitute Teddy Sheringham equalised with a right-foot shot after Bayern failed to clear a corner.

Even United8217;s stand-in skipper, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, playing his last match for the club, came up for that corner to add to the turbulence that finally crashed through an awesome Bayern defence which had handled almost 25 minutes of unrelenting pressure.

Then, with Italian referee Pierluigi Collina looking at his watch to herald extra time, substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swept in the winner from close range aftera David Beckham corner had been headed on by Sheringham.

The Norwegian hit home with a crucial flick to complete the 30,000 Bayern fans8217; unbelieving misery and send a similar number of United fans into equally unbelieving ecstasy.

The victory meant that United, who completed an English Cup and League double on Saturday became only the fourth team in European history to complete the treble. Only Celtic 1967, Ajax Amsterdam 1972 and PSV Eindhoven 1988 had reached such giddy heights before.

Basler slewed the ball round the defensive wall into United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel8217;s left-hand corner from a free kick just outside the United penalty area. The great Dane, looking untypically nervous playing his last match after eight years as United8217;s keeper, had inexplicably left a huge gap on Basler8217;s right for the free kick specialist to aim at.

Story continues below this ad

Bayern still had two golden chances to wrap up the final when their substitute Mehmet Scholl hit the post after 78 minutes and Carsten Jancker hit the bar withan overhead scissor kick six minutes later.

Instead of being 3-0 down United were still in with a chance 8212; and they grabbed it with both hands to record the most dramatic end to a European final since Bayern lost to two late goals in the last 10 minutes of the 1987 final against Porto in Vienna.

It was England8217;s first European Cup success since Liverpool in 1984.