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FA
Carling Premiership
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16th May
1999 Old Trafford
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Manchester
United
2
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Tottenham
Hotspur
1
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Beckham
42, Cole 47
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Ferdinand
24
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 ........ ........
 ........ ........ ........
.
"A nerve-racking title victory"
The two heavyweights of English football, Manchester United and Arsenal had been slogging it out for 10 months but now the final reckoning was upon them. It was quite
simple, United knew they needed a win to ensure they would be lifting their
fifth League title in seven years of Premiership football - the first piece
of silverware since the departure of the great Eric Cantona two years ago.
Having started the day a point clear of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, three points
were the only target in this nerve-racking game at Old Trafford that will
never be forgotten. It was almost excruciatingly
tense, footballing torture for the United fans who pressed radios to their
ears and prayed that results at Highbury and Old Trafford would go their
way.
The United stars certainly didn't made
the afternoon a comfortable breeze for their boss Alex Ferguson as they
stumbled against Tottenham, conceding an early goal. Fergie was brimming
with confidence beforehand. After all United had lost only once in the
previous 24 games at fortress Old Trafford, while they were unbeaten in
all competitions, home and away, since pre-Christmas.
Hence they were stunned when Spurs, with nothing other than a spot of pride
to play for, had the 'Theatre of Dreams' teetering on the brink of a nightmare
as Ferdinand, barely able to hit the net all season, suddenly sneaked past
the back four and lifted a brilliant lob over the stranded Peter Schmeichel. United
fans watched in stunned funerial silence, could this be a nightmare at the
Theatre of Dreams?
But if United have proved anything this season it is that they are not
a side to panic. Nervy up until then, United awoke and responded to the
deficit - as so often this season - in the most emphatic fashion. If Paul
Scholes had taken one of four chances, David Beckham had headed in and
not over from four yards and Ian Walker, in the Tottenham goal, not made
two superb saves, the apprehension would have long gone by half-time.
As it was, the United faithful were kept right on the edge until the 47th
minute, by which time they were 2-1 up. The first breakthrough came on in
40th minute. Beckham, lurking on the right hand side of the area, collected
Giggs's cross and struck a right-foot drive, a magnificent shot of power
and wicked bend, past Walker.
Fergie, who has been justified in shuffling the pack almost without exception
this season, then pulled off his latest masterstoke in that department
by replacing Teddy Sheringham with Andy Cole at the start of the second
half. If sitting on the bench was not to his liking, his first moment in
the thick of the action must have more than made up for all Cole's disappointments
down the years - including that end-of-season failure in 1995 when he missed
a hatful of chances to allow Blackburn in for the title and being discarded
by Arsenal seven years back.
On the pitch for just two minutes, England ace Cole latched onto Gary Neville's
floated pass, took two touches to bring down the ball, before clipping
his lobbed effort over Walker for his 18th League goal of the campaign
- and 24th in all competitions.
Thereafter, not even the news Arsenal had gone ahead against Villa, could
knock the Reds out of their stride. Nicky Butt, Cole and Dwight Yorke could
each have put the destiny of the title beyond doubt. The fact they didn't made
no difference. They had already done enough rendering the outgoing holders
Arsenal 1-0 victory over Aston Villa academic in the overall scheme of
things, it was just about protecting that vital lead.
To say the last 20 minutes were anxious is the understatement of the season.
Iversen went close for Tottenham, but his scuffed shot bobbled into Schmeichel's arms. And then there was Ferguson
on the touchline, eyes popping, finger pointing at his temple as he exhorted
his side to use their footballing brains for the most vital minutes of
their careers.
Then, after an eternity, finally the
full-time whistle went and a huge roar went up in the 55,000 crowd. After
an afternoon akin to walking a footballing tightrope Manchester United
had finally won the most captivating title race for years and the title
party could begin. Roy Keane lifted the Trophy, champagne was sprayed, Dwight
Yorke celebrated his first major honour and Peter Schmeichel said farewell
to Old Trafford.
For a brief moment Sunday evening,
workaholic Fergie might even afforded himself a quick shot of Scotch as
he sat back, feet up, safe in the knowledge the Premier trophy was back
in the Old Trafford cabinet after a 12-month stay at Highbury, north-London
home of the Gunners.It was all the more special as it was the first time
Ferguson had won the Premier League Title during a match at Old Trafford.
One down and two to go in the chase for the most formidable treble in British
soccer history. And as the inevitable Queen hit "We are the Champions"
belted out across the Theatre of Dreams
and acclaim rang out all around Old Trafford the feeling grew that this
side was on the crest of a red and white wave that would not break until it had
enveloped all the prizes on offer in this thrilling season.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Johnsen,
Irwin, Beckham, Scholes (Butt 69), Keane, Giggs (P. Neville 79), Yorke,
Sheringham (Cole 45)
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw,
Solskjaer
Booked: Sheringham
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Walker,
Carr, Edinburgh, Scales (Young 70), Campbell, Anderton, Freund, Sherwood,
Ginola (Dominguez 9), Ferdinand, Iversen, Dominguez (Sinton 76)
Subs Not Used: Baardsen,
Clemence
Booked: Anderton
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