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Recap

Manchester United defeated reigning European Cup Holders Red Star Belgrade of Yugoslavia 1-0 thanks to a Brian McClair goal after 67 minutes to win the UEFA European Super Cup at Old Trafford on November 19, 1991 between 1990-91’s Winners of the UEFA European Cup-Winners Cup and UEFA European Cup.

Brian McClair was perfectly placed to side-step the ball home after Neil Webb’s shot rebounded off the post kindly to him. The goal saved the embarrassment of Steve Bruce who missed a penalty in the 31st minute after his own shot was handled in the box by Miodrag Belodedic. Zvonko Milojevic in goal for Red Star easily saved Bruce’s penalty.

The miss knocked United’s confidence and if Red Star Belgrade had scored just one of the many chances they subsequently had playing with the dazzling skills which made them one of the most feared teams in Europe in 1990-91 they could have been home Super Cup Champions.

However their chances were squandered, in particular, 1990-91’s European Golden Boot winner on 34 goals Darko Pancev, who was not on his normally prolific form. McClair’s goal galvanized United who were revived and could have put more goals in an energetic last 20 minutes. Republic of Ireland’s Denis Irwin starred in Defence for Manchester United and Northern Ireland’s Mal Donaghy was an unused substitute, also for United.

For watching United legends Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton it was a night of mixed emotions, as it was returning from Belgrade after playing Red Star in a European Cup tie that the Munich Air Disaster happened that ended the lives of so many of Sir Matt Busby’s Busby Babes, the young team which had delighted fans in England and around the World.

Box-Score

Manchester United (0) 1 (Brian McClair 67)

Peter Schmeichel – Martin (Ryan Giggs, 71), Denis Irwin (Irl), Steve Bruce, Neil Webb, Gary Pallister, Andrei Kanchelskis, Paul Ince, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Blackmore. Unused Subs: Mal Donaghy (NIR), Walsh, Beardsmore, Robins

Red Star Belgrade (0) 0

Milosevic – Radinovic, Vasilijevic, Tanyga, Belodedic, Najdonski, Stosic, Jugovic, Pancev, Savicevic (Ivic 82), Mihajlovic. Unused Subs: Lekovic, Medeljkovic, Jovanovic

References

[1] Kier Radnedge (1991) “European Super Cup” World Soccer. December 1991. pg. 6

[2] Anon. (1991) “United Steal Super Cup” Irish Independent. Wednesday, November 20, 1991. pg. 19.