Late late show wins United their dream

With seconds to go Manchester United rose from the grave of their European dreams to snatch an historic treble that leaves them without equal in the history of the club game.

Injury time goals from substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after identical David Beckham corners from the left took United past a Bayern side who were certainties to win the trophy until the game faded from this hot night in Barcelona and the Camp Nou was overtaken by forces of destiny for this English club.

Solskjaer hit the ball into the roof of the net after Sheringham had flicked the ball across the face of the goal and Bayern's seemingly strong defenders had the life sapped out of them by United's legendary finish.

No major Cup competition on earth could have been won in such a manner and the effects of this win will extend a psychological strangle hold over the game in England and probably Europe too.

In order to stand a chance of winning their first Champions Cup since 1968 United had first to claw back a lead given to Bayern in only the 6th minute of a tight struggle.

Mario Basler presaged an outstanding game with a low and curling free kick that left Schmeichel unsighted in the United goal as the ball was passed into the net from wide on the left.

Bayern emphasised their strong opening by commanding the game for the next twenty minutes as an agitated Schmeichel made his defence nervous with wild clearances and the midfield failed to spark.

United though clearly had more possession as the session wore on and the Bayern defence stood up well to their attacks to protect goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

In a game of few shots and chances United started to offer more threat with David Beckham dictating their play. The quiet moments of the game only allowed the climax to seem more fantastical.

Bayern played well on the break and United were predictable in their use of a long ball that never looked like working. Giggs and Yorke failed to show their class and the English side lacked invention but none of this matters.

The game of results was played to perfection by United. They saw Bayern come within inches of extending their lead with only minutes to go when substitute Mehmet Scholl hit the post and Carsten Jaencker slapped on overhead kick against the cross bar with Schmeichel beaten.

The Dane was playing his last match for the English champions and FA Cup winners and he arrived in the Bayern penalty area as the time ran out for his side to attend corners. His presence was a harbinger of the chaos that would sweep over the game and bring the ultimate prize to United.

History waited for them to make the decisive kicks on this night and United answered the call that seemed beyond them for most of the final.

Sheringham turned and swept the ball into an empty net after confusion at a corner in the 91st minute and he was overjoyed to have brought his side back from the dead in this final. The game turned suddenly and from a similar situation Solskjaer took advantage of poor defending to send his side to a win that was like no other.