~Vs Juventus 99’~
It was one of the great United nights in Europe. United came into this match following a tricky match in the FA Cup and a league match too. Midweek the team secured their place in the final of the FA Cup, knocking out Arsenal in the process. Following that energy sapping encounter, it was Sheffield Wednesday in the league on the weekend. Four days later on the 21st of April, United faced Juventus in the semi final (second leg) of the Champions League.
It was very much advantage Juventus with their away goal scored by Antonio Conte in the first leg. Many believed that the Italian giants would be too much for United, just too strong. They were the top side in Europe at that time and very dominant. They were excellent at home. Their success meant that they had faced United in Europe on a number of occasions in the mid-late nineties. United were looking significantly more at ease with the pressures and demands of European football, something they had struggled with in preceding years. However in the five competitive meetings between the sides, United had won only the one. Adding to that was United’s failure to win a match in the Champions League on Italian soil. Though unbeaten and positively flying, you would have to say that odds were stacked against United.
They, Juventus, were certainly a fearful opponent With a very solid defence, world class keeper, phenomenal goal scorer and a midfield packed full of guile, skill, intelligence and flair- it made for a potent mix. They boasted such names as Zidane, Davids, Peruzzi and Deschamps. A key man in their side missed practically the whole season following a serious and career threatening knee injury. Del Piero’s absence was a relief for United, considering both his abilities and how he had performed against United previously. Ciro Ferrera had a reputation for being a rugged, no nonsense centre half with a penchant for the sneaky. He was still in the peak of his power at this time. The first leg at Old Trafford had seen Juventus dominate. They failed to make their chances count and could only find the back of the net once. The match finished level due to a last minute equaliser from Giggs. It was a real life-line for United going into the return leg in Turin.
The match in Turin started with two notable absentees in Giggs and Scholes. Giggs failed a late fitness test and Scholes was relegated to a bench role. Ferguson opted for the workmanship and guile of Butt and Keane in the centre, with Blomqvist on the left and Beckham on the right. First choice duo Cole and Yorke started upfront. Unfortunately for United it didn’t take Juventus too long to strike. In less than eleven minutes of action, United found themselves two down. Two goals in quick succession was a hammer blow and it was going to need guts as well as ability to keep Juventus from reaching their fourth final in succession. Commentators at the start of the game had said that United wouldn’t stand a chance of winning if they conceded a goal early on. It was Filippo Inzaghai that scored those two goals. His second had a degree of fortune to it owing to the huge deflection it took off Stam and over Schmeichel. Inzaghai had been a bit of a thorn in United’s side. The previous season a single goal by the poacher had caused United’s European season to come to a close. His first came from an excellent ball from Zidane following a short corner.
Content with the two nil lead, Juventus opted to sit back. It was a big mistake on their part. The season had seen United come from the dead so many times, this team just never knew when they were beaten. But even the most ardent of fans, must have thought this was beyond them. Especially against the experience of this Juventus side that was as pragmatic as it was skillful. Staring potential exit right in the face, the team carried on in the same vein they had all season long. Their approach paid off, when, towards the end of the first half Beckham put in an inviting cross. Rising, Roy Keane headed in a priceless goal. The goal served to galvanise the team and created a palpable tension amongst Juventus’s home supporters. Just ten minutes later United brought the match back level courtesy of a diving Dwight Yorke header. Build up started following a long ball by Neville to Beckham who nodded it down for Cole. Cole took a touch and delivered a perfect cross for Yorke- their telepathic understanding was something to be admired. United had come from two down but the job was still not over.
Though not quite as dramatic as the first half, the second provided a steady supply of moments that kept you right on the edge of your seat. Early on Inzaghai had a goal ruled offside. Shortly after that Irwin hit the post and then Beckham’s effort from range was inches away from sneaking in. Juventus fashioned a handful of chances, one of which produced an excellent save by Schmeichel. The United team was relentless and kept up their pursuit for that killer goal. It duly came six minutes from time. It was hardly the prettiest – Schmeichel kicked the ball long and Ferrara failed to deal with it properly. Latching onto the poor clearance, Yorke dribbled through two defenders only to be hauled down by Peruzzi in the penalty box. His partner in crime Andy Cole was advancing and struck the rebound home. Coles goal had won it but the six minutes and added time was enough for Inzaghai to threaten. Nothing came of that of course.
That evening United did the unthinkable and in the process sealed progress to the final for the first time in over thirty years. When the match ended United’s players were applauded off the field by Juventus fans. Which in itself says it all. One man has to be mentioned for his contribution to the win. That man being Roy Keane, the Irishman up against the then best midfield in club football had managed to nullify it and control the game- stifling Davids and Zidane into submission. His headed goal in the first half was crucial to getting the team back on course. His overall performance is marked down as one of the greatest individual performances by in a player in (relatively) recent times. Booked in the match, he knew full well he’d be out of the final. Instead of letting his head drop he seemed to redouble his efforts and those efforts certainly came to fruition. The quote below by Ferguson sums up Keanes contribution-
A great find, youtube user markg541 has uploaded a video of Keanes performance from the night.
“It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player.”
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