The scale of the glory, and the melodramatic manner in which it arrived, was hard to take in.
Manchester United wrought a sporting miracle to devastate Bayern Munich with two stoppage-time strikes, thus transforming a contest which had appeared irretrievable.
The Germans had made the more assured start and led through an early Basler free-kick, which the flamboyant midfielder had bent around the Red's defensive wall with Schmeichel rooted to his line. The award was controversial, Johnsen's challenge on Jancker appearing to be accidental.
However, though United went on to enjoy the lion's share of the first half possession, with Beckham impressive in an unaccustomed central role, they were not at their best without the suspended Keane and Scholes, and Bayern deserved their interval advantage.
Thereafter the English Champions laboured energetically but with insufficient penetration, while Bayern looked increasingly composed, and as time began to run out the Reds were hit by a series of counter-attacks. Schmeichel made saves from Effenberg and Scholl, and there were heart-stopping moments when Scholl chipped against a post on 79 minutes and Jancker's overhead volley crashed against the bar five minutes later.
Still United refused to buckle and they mounted desperate pressure which saw chances for Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjaer slip away. All that remained was added time, during which two Beckham corners set up the most astonishing resurrection ever witnessed in a major final. First a mishit Giggs shot ran to Sheringham, who steered the ball just inside a post from close range. Then with Bayern reeling, the Londoner nodded across goal for Solskjaer to poke an incredible winner into the top corner of Kahn's net.
Manchester United had completed a fantastic treble on the 90th anniversary of Sir Matt Busby's birth. The ultimate footballing fairytale was complete.
