United’s year of beating the clock

The e-mails were entitled “Name on the Trophy!!! 26/05/1999 (1), (2) and (3)” and it was a load of quotes from the world of TV commentary from the day, as well as various newspaper reports from the days after the event.

That’s right, time once again to reminisce about my “Name on the Trophy” blog from last September, when I wrote about three e-mails I found from back on the 26th May 2004.

IT WAS obvious that Manchester United would win the treble with some eleventh-hour dramatics last night – right from the kick-off this season, they have been pulling points and cup-ties out of the fire. Bill Edgar and Gary Jacob recall those squeaks and scrapes.

· August 15: On the opening day of the FA Carling Premiership, David Beckham shrugs off a summer of national criticism to score last-minute equaliser from a free kick against Leicester City.

· January 24: Two goals in the last three minutes from Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer give United a 2-1 win at home to Liverpool in an FA Cup fourth-round tie.

· January 31: With the Premiership title race hotting up, Yorke gives United victory at Charlton in the 89th minute.

· March 17: Internazionale become United’s first Italian victims in European competition after their quarter-final second leg in Milan ends 1-1, Scholes equalising in the 88th minute.

· April 7: Trailing 1-0 in the home leg of their European Cup semi-final with Juventus, a last-minute goal from Ryan Giggs keeps United’s assault on three fronts going.

· April 14: United’s struggling ten men face defeat in their FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal until Peter Schemichel saves Dennis Bergkamp’s last-minute penalty and Ryan Giggs’s goal of the season in extra time earns a 2-1 victory.

· April 21: United recover from 2-0 down in Turin to win 3-2 against Juventus through goals from Roy Keane, Yorke and Andy Cole.

· May 16: United come from a goal down at home to beat Tottenham Hotspur and clinch the championship.

· May 22: United complete their third Double in six seasons by beating Newcastle United in the FA Cup Final.

· May 26: An historic first treble is claimed in injury time in the European Cup final by Teddy Sheringham and Solskjaer.

#22 United’s year of beating the clock – THE TIMES