This season’s Carabao Cup final won’t be the first final between Manchester United and Newcastle, but it’s been a treat since they did.
The clubs are in similar places, looking to put disappointing spells behind them and re-establish themselves as two of the biggest and best sides in the country.
The same was the case for Newcastle when the pair last met in a cup final in the spring of 1999. After finishing second in the league for two consecutive seasons earlier in the decade, the Magpies had fallen to the bottom of the table. And, managed by Ruud Gullit, looked to be a team in decline. Their FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham was their only victory in over a month.
Things couldn’t be more different for the team they will face in the final, with a young United side, featuring the class of ’92, just clinched the league title and a historic treble.
Here’s how things went down on the day.
It was the underdogs who started the game strongly, with Alan Shearer laying the ball down for Nolberto Solano, who saw his volley saved by Peter Schmeichel…there were some pretty easy players on the pitch.
Things then got worse for Alex Ferguson when Roy Keane was injured in a challenge with Gary Speed, who had to be replaced by Teddy Sheringham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer moves to the wing and David Beckham to central midfield.
Despite the setback, Man Utd took the lead less than two minutes after the change. Sheringham made an immediate impact, replacing Steve Harper after being played by Paul Scholes.
The goalscorer and Andy Cole both had chances to double their side’s lead before the end of the first half, the Red Devils were the better team, but the pair were unable to get them, meaning Newcastle reached the final 45 with a chance. Entered in minutes. .
Just eight minutes after the restart though, Scholes and Sheringham combined again to make it 2-0, this time switching roles with the striker setting up the midfielder.
Newcastle had chances to get back into the game after that, with Silvio Meric missing one of their biggest players, when the goal went through.
Ultimately, he was unable to beat Schmeichel with any of his 11 attempts, with just three of them on target to give his opponents a chance to secure a domestic double.
Ferguson singled out Sheringham and Beckham for praise after the match, impressed by the former’s impact off the bench and the latter’s ability to fill Kane in midfield – as he did again a few days later in the Champions League final.
On this week’s edition of TFP, Chelsea legend Joe Cole joins Harry Simeou, Graze Khan, Scott Saunders and Hunter Goodson to discuss all the UEFA Champions League action from midweek, as well as this weekend’s action. Awaited the biggest fixture. Click if you can’t see this embed. Here To watch the video!
Just four days later, Ferguson’s team went on to make it a double-a-treble when they beat Bayern Munich in a dramatic Champions League final, the first English team to do so.
The game had some real parallels with the FA Cup final, with Sheringham coming off the bench to be the hero for his side, equalizing in the 91st minute before Solskjaer grabbed the winner two minutes later, and Beckham Did an admirable job. For Ken
Thanks to their cup triumph and Premier League title, the team has since become one of the best teams in English football history.
As for Newcastle, they moved away from Gilt five games into the following campaign and appointed Sir Bobby Robson, who briefly made them one of the best sides in the country during his five seasons in charge. will