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Two down, one to go Manchester United wins F.A. Cup 2-0 over Newcastle
Posted: Saturday May 22, 1999 01:31 PM
WEMBLEY, England (AP) -- Manchester United kept its historic bid for the triple alive Saturday, downing Newcastle 2-0 on goals by Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes as the Reds added the F.A. Cup to the league title won a week ago. Sheringham scored in the 10th from 16 meters (yards) -- just 90 seconds after coming on as a substitute for injured Roy Keane -- and Scholes scored from 18 meters (yards) in the 53rd off a defensive error by the Magpies' Nicos Dabizas. It was the season-ender for English soccer and an 80,000 sellout at sunny Wembley in north London, but only a tantalizing prelude for England's flagship team. The Reds, unbeaten in 32 games, can become the first English side to win all three major European trophies in one season with a victory Wednesday in Barcelona over Bayern Munich in the European Champions Cup, which Manchester United has won only once (1968). The F.A. Cup was the Reds' record 10th and gave Alex Ferguson's side its third league and cup double of the decade to go with 1994 and '96. Ruud Gullit's Newcastle, without a domestic trophy since 1955 and a mere mid-table team this season, was out-classed as it dropped its second straight F.A. Cup final, falling last year to Arsenal 2-0. "That's fantastic -- three Doubles in five years. The boys were marvelous,' Ferguson said. 'This has been a tremendous season and once again the players produced it when it mattered." And almost immediately the focus shifted to Barcelona. "'It has been a tremendous season - the lads were fantastic again," striker Dwight Yorke said. "We've got two trophies now so we can go all out for the third." His striking partner Andy Cole also looked to Barcelona and offered condolences to Newcastle. "The hunger is still there for Wednesday and the Champions' Cup final," Cole said. "It's another big game but this final hasn't taken anything out of the lads. Roll on Wednesday." "I have sympathy for Newcastle. It's two years on the trot at Wembley with nothing to show for it." Sheringham gave Manchester United a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute -- the Reds' first shot of the match -- as he slipped the ball through the legs of sprawling Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper after passes from Scholes and Andy Cole. Sheringham, benched at the start, came on after Keane limped off in the 9th minute following a slashing tackle from Gary Speed. After a lackluster first half, Newcastle pressured early to open the second half behind substitute Duncan Ferguson. But Scholes stopped the momentum, taking advantage as Dabizas passed blindly as the Red were threatening. Scholes took advantage of the slack Newcastle defense and scored on a low shot from 18 meters (yards) off a pass from Sheringham. Out-manned thrughout, Newcastle had a chance to creep back in in the 83rd when substitute Silvio Maric missed a wide-open shot from 15 meters (yards) that had Reds goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel beaten but went wide. The Reds rested key central defender Jaap Stam -- playing only the final 13 minutes -- with an achilles injury to have him ready for Wednesday. Keane and Scholes are suspended for the Champions Cup final. Denis Irwin sat out Saturday through suspension but will be available in Barcelona. It was Schmeichel's final match in England for Manchester
United. He has announced plans to leave the club and play next
season in a less-pressurized European league.
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