MANCHESTER UNITED 2 CITY 1
FA Cup 5th Round
18th February 1996
attendance 42,692
scorers
City Rosler(11)
United Cantona(38 pen), Sharpe(77)
Ref Alan Wilkie
City Immel, Summerbee, Frontzeck, Lomas, Curle, Symons, Kinkladze, Rosler, Quinn, Clough, Brown – subs Creaney(79), Abazaj(unused), Margetson(unused)
United Schmeichel, Irwin, Bruce, Pallister, P Neville, Giggs, Keane, Butt, Sharpe, Cantona, Cole – subs May(unused), Scholes(unused), Coton(unused)
UWE ROSLER PUTS CITY 1-0 UP
FROM ‘UWE ROSLER, KNOCKING DOWN WALLS’
… We were into the last 16 but pulled out an away tie at Manchester United in the fifth round. While it meant it would be a fantastic occasion for our fans, it was the last match we needed at that point.
We would be taking 12,000 fans to Old Trafford and we thought we could go there and give a decent account of ourselves, maybe even bring them back to our place. Okay we hadn’t won there for 22 years, but at the end of the day it was just 11 versus 11 and we had a chance.
I’d started to understand Georgi a lot better and he’d really found his role in the team. We also knew a lot more about what he was about and it would show in the game. Nobody gave us a chance at Old Trafford but once we walked out at the Stretford End and saw our fans banked away at the other end, we puffed out our chests and, if nothing else, we’d make sure we gave United a game for them. It was the most amazing atmosphere I’d experienced with our fans incredible from start to finish. I knew it would be a career high if I could score in front of them, so when I was given the chance, I knew I had to take it.
Georgi got the ball just over the halfway line, span his marker and spotted my run: He played the ball through to leave me clear on goal. Peter Schmeichel raced off his line to the edge of the box so it was now or never. He was almost up to me and in a split second, I knew I either had to go around him or try to chip him. I had to go with my instinct and I knew he didn’t really think I’d try and chip him so I deftly scooped the ball over his head. As it went over his outstretched arms, it brushed his fingertips on its way towards the goal where it bounced once before entering the empty net.
The City fans erupted, going crazy behind the goal and I ran towards them and celebrated before I was mobbed. It is still one of my favourite career moments. Sadly, United were awarded a soft penalty before the break, the sort you only get at home with a big crowd behind you, from which they scored. They then added another in the second half to go through 2-1…
…The Blues backed by around 8,000 fans began brightly and Gio’s deft through-ball put Uwe Rosler in the clear and the German striker lobbed Peter Schmeichel from 20 yards for the opening goal.
…Unfortunately referee Alan Wilkie was in charge and his comical handling of the game has become almost legendary amongst City fans down the years… Roy Keane reacted by remonstrating with Wilkie when he blew his whistle before he realised a penalty had been awarded for United rather than an infringement given in City’s favour. It was so ridiculous, it was almost funny. Almost but not quite.
It allowed United to back on level terms and City eventually lost 2-1
From KINKLADZE PERFECT 10
