1991_European_Cup_Winners'_Cup_Final

1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final

1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final

Football match

The 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final was a football match played between Manchester United and Barcelona on 15 May 1991 at Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam. It was the final match of the 1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 31st European Cup Winners' Cup final. It came at the end of the first season of the reintroduction of English clubs into European competition after the ban following the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Quick Facts Event, Manchester United ...

The match ended 2–1 to Manchester United on the night, with both United goals coming from former Barcelona forward Mark Hughes. Ronald Koeman scored a consolation goal for Barcelona towards the end of the game, but it was not enough to prevent the Red Devils from becoming the first English side to win a European competition since they were banned in 1985. It was also United's first European title in 23 years, since the European Cup in 1968. This was their only Cup Winners' Cup title, in which they only played one more season, eliminated in the second round in 1991–92.

Route to the final

Further information: 1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup
More information Manchester United, Round ...

Match

Summary

Former Barcelona forward Mark Hughes scored both of United's goals.

Mark Hughes, who had previously played for Barcelona, scored both of the goals for Manchester United. His career had faltered after Terry Venables took him to the Camp Nou in 1986. A loan spell at Bayern Munich revived him prior to his return to United in 1988.

After a goalless first half, United went 1–0 up following a free-kick from captain, Bryan Robson, which was headed goalwards by defender Steve Bruce. United striker Mark Hughes tapped the ball over the line, although whether the ball had already crossed before Hughes touched it was in dispute for some time, with both Bruce and Hughes claiming the goal (Mark Hughes later credited the goal to Steve Bruce, but the official scoreline shows both goals as being scored by Hughes). For his second goal, Hughes cut the ball into the net from such an acute angle that he had to spin it off the outside of his boot to ensure that it found its mark.

After Koeman scored from a free kick, which came off the upright and hit the legs of United keeper Les Sealey before crossing the line, Barcelona had a late equaliser ruled out for offside and also had a shot cleared off the line. United finished the game 2–1 winners.

Manchester United were undefeated in all rounds (unlike Barcelona who lost two games in qualifying). Brian McClair scored at least once in every round that Manchester United were involved in, except the final.

The Spanish newspapers stated "The Red Devils came dressed in white, like angels" but went on to remark at how devilish United were in their beating of Barcelona.

Details

More information Manchester United, 2–1 ...
Attendance: 43,500
Referee: Bo Karlsson (Sweden)
Manchester United
Barcelona
GK1England Les Sealey
RB2Republic of Ireland Denis Irwin
LB3Wales Clayton Blackmore
CB4England Steve Bruce
RM5England Mike Phelan
CB6England Gary Pallister
CM7England Bryan Robson (c)Yellow card 78'
CM8England Paul Ince
SS9Scotland Brian McClair
CF10Wales Mark Hughes
LM11England Lee Sharpe
Substitutes:
DF12Northern Ireland Mal Donaghy
GK13England Gary Walsh
MF14England Neil Webb
FW15England Mark Robins
FW16England Danny Wallace
Manager:
Scotland Alex Ferguson
GK1Spain Carles Busquets
RB2Spain NandoRed card 84'
CB3Spain José Ramón Alexanko (c)downward-facing red arrow 72'
DM4Netherlands Ronald Koeman
LB5Spain Albert Ferrer
CM6Spain José Mari BakeroYellow card 76'
RM7Spain Jon Andoni Goikoetxea
CM8Spain Eusebio
CF9Spain Julio Salinas
CF10Denmark Michael Laudrup
LM11Spain Txiki Begiristain
Substitutes:
GK12Spain Jesús Angoy
MF13Spain Miquel Soler
DF14Spain Ricardo Serna
DF15Spain Sebastián Herrera
FW16Spain Antonio Pinillaupward-facing green arrow 72'
Manager:
Netherlands Johan Cruyff

Assistant referees:
Rune Larsson (Sweden)
Leif Sundell (Sweden)
Fourth official:
John Blankenstein (Netherlands)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Five named substitutes.
  • Maximum of two substitutions.

See also

References
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