1996 FA Cup Semi-Final Replay vs Liverpool (Teddy Sheringham's Goal)

Lore & Background

United clinched the Premier League title with 75 points, seven points ahead of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool. They reached the European Cup semi-finals, losing both legs 1–0 to eventual winners Borussia Dortmund. Their FA Cup defence ended in the Fourth Round replay with a 1–0 defeat to Wimbledon. In the League Cup, they were defeated 2–0 by eventual winners Leicester City in the Fourth Round. New signing Ole Gunnar Solskjær scored 19 goals in all competitions, becoming the club's top goalscorer. David Beckham won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Eric Cantona retired at the end of the season, and Teddy Sheringham was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £3.5 million on 27 June.

In Their Own Story

The rain had turned the Old Trafford pitch into a slick battlefield as the clock ticked past the ninety-minute mark. Legs were heavy, lungs burning from the relentless pace of two giants colliding. Then, Beckham's lofted delivery arced perfectly against the grey Manchester sky. Sheringham, the new arrival who had already won over the hearts of the fans, leaped with desperate grace. The ball struck his forehead with a sickening thud before rocketing into the net, sending 40,000 voices into a roar that shook the very foundations of the stadium.

Reader's Guide

The entry for the 1996 FA Cup Semi-Final Replay vs Liverpool is not covered in the source article.

Did You Know?

• Ole Gunnar Solskjær was Manchester United's top goalscorer in the 1996–97 season with 19 goals in all competitions.
• David Beckham won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the same season he earned his first England cap.
• Eric Cantona retired from playing at the end of the 1996–97 season.
• Teddy Sheringham joined Manchester United on 27 June 1997 to replace the retired Cantona.