The European Cup Winners Cup Final 1991

Rotterdam, 15th May 1991

When United arrived in Rotterdam to face Barcelona for the European Cup-winners Cup Final they hoped that this would be the match that would put an end to a 23 year spell without a European trophy.

They did, with 2 goals from Mark Hughes the player the Spaniards had rejected almost four years earlier. It seemed that Hughes was determined to prove that they had made a huge mistake in letting him go. Hughes attacking style of play had Ronald Koeman trapped in his own half in an unusually defensive role.

United played well in the first half, however, they failed to score. This was remedied in the 68th minute after Hughes was fouled on the edge of the box; Robson took the free kick and Hughes was on hand to put the ball over the line. Seven minutes later the Welsh International blasted the ball into the net after receiving a pass from Robson to make the score 2-0.

In the 79th minute Barcelona pulled one back with a free kick taken by Koeman. The next 10 minutes were an anxious time for the United team, but they stood their ground, and in the last few seconds Hughes looked like completing a hat-trick when he was pulled down on the edge of the box by Nando who was duly shown the red card.

Clayton Blackmore made a goal line clearance towards the death, and United lifted the Trophy in the first season after the English 5 year exile in Europe.