20 Years Later: Why Man United's Treble-Winning Season Will Never Be Bettered
1. That Ryan Giggs Goal
Nobody really enjoys FA Cup replays given how they disrupt already congested fixture schedules. The 98/99 United team had already had to go through one (the quarter final against Chelsea, where they won the second match 2-0 after being held to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford) when there was nothing to separate them and Arsenal after extra time in the semi-final.
Nowadays such a match would go to penalties, but a bizarre tournament quirk (removed from the next season onwards) necessitated another match to determine who would join Newcastle United at Wembley for the domestic cup's final match.
The game had an abundance of drama. David Beckham quickly broke the deadlock, the first time Arsenal's legendary back-line had conceded in almost 700 minutes, before Dennis Bergkamp equalised after the interval. Roy Keane was sent off, Nicolas Anelka had a goal disallowed for offside and a stoppage time Bergkamp penalty was pawed away by Peter Schmeichel to take the match to extra time once again.
This time there was a breakthrough. Ryan Giggs picked up on a loose pass from Patrick Vieira on the halfway line, relentlessly charging at the tired Arsenal back line and beating four men before smashing the ball past a helpless David Seaman.
The crowd roared, witnesses to what has gone down in history as one of the greatest goals ever scored in English football. Talk about timing!