THE 24 MATCHES THAT HELP TELL FERGUSON'S STORY ..(Part 2)

1994 FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: OLDHAM 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 

That man Mark Hughes again. In truth this FA Cup semi-final was gone for United until the Welshman fired home a simply magnificent volley to rescue the Reds.

United had a hugely exciting team in 1993-94, a side that remains many fans' favourite under Ferguson. With Andrei Kanchelskis and Ryan Giggs tearing down the wings, Roy Keane marauding around midfield with that old warhorse Bryan Robson, and Eric Cantona simply doing his stuff, United were thrilling to watch.

They had already lost the League Cup final to Aston Villa however, and if they had lost at Wembley in this FA Cup semi-final you sense the wheels might really have come off that season. Oldham went in front during extra-time and all around me delirious supporters of the Latics were dreaming of a return to the old place in May for the final.

United supporters had begun streaming out of Wembley before Hughes, out of nothing, smashed home his marvellous equaliser in the final minute.

United were back from the brink, and they would go on to beat Oldham comfortably in the replay and win the both the league title and FA Cup for the club's first double.

United team v Oldham, April 1994: Peter Schmeichel, Paul Parker, Denis Irwin, Steve Bruce, Lee Sharpe, Gary Pallister, Dion Dublin, Paul Ince, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Ryan Giggs.

Making his point: Ferguson gives instructions to his players before extra-time in their clash with Oldham at Wembley

1995 PREMIER LEAGUE: CRYSTAL PALACE 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Matthew Simmons, eh? He doesn't really deserve the oxygen of more publicity from me of course, but there can be little doubt of the importance of this winter's night in south London.

The match was forgettable enough, and ended in a 1-1 draw. But it was what happened after Cantona was sent off and began walking off the field that makes this match so memorable. We've all seen the footage a million times now, as Cantona amazingly leaps at Palace fan Simmons, aiming both feet towards him. The Frenchman later claimed that the supporter had been shouting racial abuse.

It was the days before mobiles of course, and news came through of Cantona's indiscretion via old-fashioned ways. You remember word of mouth don't you? We all crowded round a small pub telly in York as I recall to watch Sportsnight, and were open-mouthed as the incident was shown.

The world and his wife queued up to crucify Cantona, and only United's staunchest and most loyal defenders (read Paddy Crerand) could offer up any serious defence.

The Frenchman was banned for nine months, and that can be seen as a major reason for United coming up just short in both the league and FA Cup that season.

Amazing: Eric Cantona aims a kick at Palace fan Matthew Simmons in 1995

1996 PREMIER LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Forget the rest, your Liverpool v Newcastle from the same year, or the Arsenal v United from 2003, this remains the most important top flight clash since the Premier League was formed.

United had a very decent side developing with their youngsters David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers Gary and Phil playing key roles.

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle had taken a hold on the title race however, and even though United had closed the gap, the Magpies were still four points clear with a game in hand before this March night.

Newcastle frankly outplayed United in the opening half, with Peter Schmeichel needing to be at his brilliant best to keep the hosts out. But United improved after the break and Cantona, who was playing like he had a point to prove following his nine month ban, fired in the only goal of the game.

It was a trick the Frenchman would repeat many times in the weeks after, as United claimed their third league title in four years and Keegan was driven to his infamous 'I would love it' rant on television.

And to think that Alan Hansen had declared on the opening day of the season that 'you'll never win anything with kids.'

Priceless: Eric Cantona fires home United's winner at Newcastle

1996 FA CUP FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 LIVERPOOL 0

Awful game, totally forgettable and a dreadful spectacle for the watching millions. One of the worst FA Cup finals in the last 20 years actually. But a glorious result for United. Beating your arch enemies to win a league and cup double is something that any fan would dream of.

And the goal was pure Cantona, United's talisman of the time. David James could only punch away a late corner to the edge of the penalty area and Cantona magnificently smashed home to cement the feeling that Liverpool's era of dominance was over.

Pure joy: Eric Cantona fires United's late winner against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final

Ferguson once famously said his greatest achievement was to 'knock Liverpool off their f****** perch'. Some people miss the point with this one, particularly younger folk, and suggest Ferguson still hasn't done so because Liverpool have won more trophies. No, he's done it all right and he did it a long time ago - 14 years and more ago.

Ferguson was the picture of joy that day at Wembley. A second double in three seasons had put the Scot at the peak of his powers.

United team v Liverpool, May 1996: Peter Schmeichel, Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister, David May, Phil Neville, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole.

All smiles: Ferguson with Eric Cantona and Brian Kidd after United's win over Liverpool at Wembley

1997 EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1

How to sum up United's relationship with the European Cup? Quite simply it is written into the club's very DNA. From the Munich air crash in 1958 to that emotional victory over Benfica at Wembley ten years later, the competition has provided United with tragedy and triumph.

Since United's return to the tournament in 1993, there had been some thrilling nights but Ferguson's men were clearly on a learning curve and never seriously looked like they could win the thing. That all changed in 1996-97 however, particularly when United stung Porto with a marvellous 4-0 win at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals that had fans and pundits alike recalling the 1960s.

Surely Borussia Dortmund wouldn't spoil the party? But yes, they would and did. United lost a tense first leg 1-0 in Germany but were still slight favourites to go through.

Old Trafford was expectant for the return match, but the home crowd was soon stunned when the Germans scored another goal early on to go 2-0 ahead on aggregate.

What happened after that defied belief, and to put it simply I have never seen United miss so many chances in a big match. Messrs Andy Cole and Cantona among others just couldn't put the ball in the net, and United exited the competition.

The match had another sad context - it would be one of the last main memories of Cantona, who endured a night of great frustrations. The Frenchman would retire from the game a month later. United had lost one of their great heroes.

Agony: United fans suffered as their team were knocked out of the European Cup by Borussia Dortmund

1999 FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 ARSENAL 1

Some games just happen to make you remember why you became a football fan in the first place. The final ever semi-final replay at Villa Park had it all.

The first game ended in a 0-0 draw (Keane had a perfectly good goal disallowed) and all was set up nicely for a second encounter between England's two finest teams.

A superb goal from Beckham put United ahead, but Arsenal hit back to equalise and when Keane was sent off the Gunners were favourites.

And when Arsenal then won a last minute penalty it seemed United's treble bid was about to be ruined, but Schmeichel was United's hero yet again, saving Dennis Bergkamp's penalty.

It seemed as if penalties were now United's best hope, but instead Giggs picked a pretty good moment to score the goal of the decade, running through the Arsenal defence and smashing the ball into the roof of David Seaman's net.

Ferguson remarked that 'given the importance of the game, the point it had reached and the pressure our ten men were under, that had to be one of the best goals ever scored in major football'.

Ferguson and United's players were mobbed by their delirious supporters at Villa Park, with Beckham chaired off the pitch. United's audacious bid for the treble was still alive.

Unforgettable: David Beckham is chaired off the pitch at Villa Park after United's dramatic win over Arsenal

1999 EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL: JUVENTUS 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 3

Seven nights after their Villa Park heartstopper United found themselves in Turin for the second leg of a European Cup semi-final. 

What happened on that Wednesday night will for ever be part of United folklore, as the Reds produced arguably their greatest ever performance (it must certainly rank as the greatest performance in my memory) to come from behind and reach the final.

Many people seem to forget the first leg, in which United were outplayed in the first half. The Italian giants could easily have scored three or four goals, instead of just one scored by Antonio Conte. United improved dramatically after the break, and a late equaliser from Giggs gave them hope for the second leg.

Only the most optimistic United supporter gave their side a prayer however when Juventus scored twice in the opening minutes at the Stadio delle Alpi to take a 3-1 aggregate lead. But Keane, whose booking on the night would rule him out of the final, rose to head in a corner to give the visitors hope, and with confidence visibly soaring Dwight Yorke headed another goal to equalise on the night.

Juventus could still have ruined United's dream with a second half goal, but Ferguson's men held firm and in the closing minutes they broke clear and Cole slid in a third.

It was an incredibly emotional night for United fans the world over - the club had reached a first European Cup final since their Wembley triumph under Sir Matt Busby 31 years before.

A captain's goal: Roy Keane scores for United in Turin

1999 EUROPEAN CUP FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BAYERN MUNICH 1

It was fitting that in United's 'annus miraculous' of 1999 the final act would verge on the miraculous. 

Certainly Ferguson, United's players and their supporters were left to wonder whether there was something divine about the match, which was played on what would have been Sir Matt Busby's 90th birthday.

So much has been written about this incredible game that it's difficult to add anything new really - suffice to say that United supporters have never known such a period of ecstasy as they enjoyed in the final moments of this extraordinary European Cup final.

Unbelievable: Ole Solskjaer scores United's late winner in the Nou Camp

United had already clinched the Premier League title, coming from behind to beat Tottenham at Old Trafford on the final day of the season. They then added the FA Cup to clinch another double, with a 2-0 win over Newcastle at Wembley. All roads led to Barcelona for a showpiece final against German giants Bayern Munich.

Their treble dreams appeared to be over however when Bayern were leading 1-0 at the Nou Camp, courtesy of Mario Basler's early free-kick, with the clock showing 90 minutes.

Bayern had also hit the woodwork twice in the closing stages, and their fans were preparing to celebrate. Prayers were being offered to the heavens by United supporters, but in truth most had resigned themselves to defeat.

But then up popped Teddy Sheringham to equalise in stoppage time and keep United's hopes alive. Unbelievably there was then still enough time left for Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to score an instinctive winner and break Bayern hearts

Ferguson was chaired shoulder high by his players as United enjoyed the longest and most delirious lap (s) of honour of all time.

Fans would drink and dance until dawn in Las Ramblas and all over the city, singing Happy Birthday to Sir Matt and counting their lucky stars that they were present to see something so unforgettable.

Of all the games, in all the places, nothing United have done and will do under Ferguson will ever compare to that fabled night.

United team v Bayern Munich, May 1999: Peter Schmeichel, Gary Neville, Ronny Johnsen, Jaap Stam, Denis Irwin, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Jesper Blomqvist, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole.

Unforgettable: Ferguson is chaired shoulder high by his players after United beat Bayern Munich to win the European Cup in 1999

-courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Game yang paling aku ingat mestilah game season 98/99!! Tapi game yg melibatkan our King Cantona pun masih melekat dalam ingatan aku..tendangan ala2 flying kick time lawan Crystal Palace and satu2nya goal King Cantona pada final Piala FA menentang Liverfool..what a wonderful n'joyful moment!! And kalau korang ada baca post aku sebelum ni pasal Treble Season..very2 EMOtional moment!! Thanx Sir Alex..