Manchester United have inflicted plenty of horror on opponents down the years, with late winners and dramatic comebacks.
There has always been a fear factor associated with Manchester United.
That might have diminished since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, which means the most terrifying aspect of Halloween for United fans is often the unpredictable nature of the team’s performance.
Results are finally picking up at Old Trafford, but a lot of the first 11 months under Ruben Amorim felt like a genuine horror movie.
The current players must prove that Old Trafford is not haunted by the ghosts of past glories.
Here are five memorable United comeback wins when they left their opponents spooked.
1999 Champions League final: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
This game will be at the top of every United fan’s list.
The 1999 Champions League final is widely regarded as the greatest and most dramatic comeback in football history. Bayern Munich dominated much of the game and took the lead after six minutes with a low free-kick from Mario Basler.
Bayern had many chances to seal the win with more goals, including an attempt that hit the crossbar, but United were still pushing as the game approached stoppage time.
The unthinkable happened. Three minutes were added on and in the 91st minute, David Beckham took a corner kick before Ryan Giggs scuffed a shot towards goal. Teddy Sheringham was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball into the net for the equaliser.
United kept pushing for the decisive final blow, when another substitute, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was perfectly positioned as Sheringham flicked the ball towards the six-yard box from a separate Beckham corner kick. The Baby-Faced Assassin poked the ball into the roof of the net, and United reached the promised land as the first English club to win the Treble.
2001: Tottenham 3-5 Manchester United
United’s 5-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 is one of the most famous comebacks in Premier League history.
Tottenham dominated the first half and took a three-goal lead into the break. This prompted the hairdryer treatment from Sir Alex Ferguson, leading to a transformation in the second half.
United went on to score five unanswered goals in just 45 minutes to seal the win. Andy Cole scored immediately after the break to inspire more goals from Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham.
2009: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
This match proved pivotal in the 2008/09 Premier League title race.
United went into the game with several key players out injured. To make matters worse, Ferguson’s side had recently slipped behind Liverpool in the league table.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with an indirect free-kick before John Carew equalised by heading in a cross from Gareth Barry. Gabriel Agbonlahor put the visitors ahead after the break.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Ronaldo completed his brace with a low drive from outside the box, but United needed to do more to secure three points. That was achieved when Federico Macheda came off the bench as a teenage striker to curl a stunning winner into the top corner on his senior debut.
1993: Man City 2-3 Manchester United
The list wouldn’t be complete without a classic Manchester derby.
We are going to jump back to 1993 when United came from behind after City took a 2-0 advantage before half-time.
United looked rattled as City were in control of the game, but Ferguson’s side mounted a comeback in the second half, spearheaded by Eric Cantona. The French forward pulled one back in the 52nd minute before completing his brace in the 77th minute.
Peter Schmeichel was forced to make a crucial save to deny Niall Quinn a hat-trick.
Thankfully, the winner came from another Irishman, but one wearing Red as Roy Keane found the back of the net by converting a cross from Denis Irwin.
United went on to win the league that season.
1993: Manchester United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
This fixture is often cited as the origin of the term ‘Fergie Time.’
United were in the middle of a title race with Aston Villa. They went into the game one point adrift of Villa.
John Sheridan converted a penalty to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute.
As the clock ran down, Steve Bruce equalised with a diving header from an Irwin corner in the 84th minute. A lengthy stoppage time followed because the referee had to be replaced during the second half due to an Achilles injury.
In the 7th minute of stoppage time, Bruce appeared again with another header to beat goalkeeper Chris Woods.
The winner from Bruce led to an iconic celebration as Ferguson ran down the touchline as his assistant, Brian Kidd, sprinted onto the pitch before dropping to his knees.
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