Top 5 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Moments
August 25 1996
Manchester United 2 Blackburn 2
With United trailing to a Lars Bohinen goal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a
dream start to his Manchester United career, scoring just six minutes into
his debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers. Rovers’ keeper Tim
Flowers managed to keep his first attempt out, but Solskjaer showed his
composure so score the rebound in a 2-2 draw. Solskjær would go on to score
18 Premiership goals during his first season, helping United win the title.
24th January 1999
Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1
After Liverpool had took the lead in this FA Cup encounter with an early
goal from Michael Owen, after Scholes and Keane missed guilt edge chances,
Dwight Yorke equalised from a free kick in the 89th minute. A minute later,
the substitute Solskjaer collected the ball on the edge of the box and
characteristically shot the ball into the corner past a despairing David
James.
February 6th 1999
Nottingham Forest 1, Manchester United 8
Alex Ferguson once remarked that Solskjaer had a knack of sitting on the
bench and studying the game without ever taking his eye off the action. On
this occasion, with United already 4-1 up thanks to goals from Cole and
Yorke against Ron Atkinson’s side, Solskjaer entered the game with 72
minutes gone. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored four goals, sealing the fastest
hat-trick and the biggest away win in the 10 years of the Premiership.
26th May 1999
Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1
In a hot summers night at the Nou Camp, a Teddy Sheringham goal ment that
Manchester United had just equalised against the Germans, cancelling out
Mario Basler’s 6th minute strike.
Less than 30 seconds after the subsequent kick-off from the equaliser,
United forced another corner, Beckham swung the corner in, which was headed
downwards by Sheringham. Solskjaer stuck out a foot and poked the ball into
the roof of the Bayern goal for United to take an astonishing lead. The ITV
veiwing audience were treated to Clive Tyldesley’s memorable commentary of
“Beckham… into Sheringham… and Solskjaer has won it!” “Manchester United
have reached the Promised Land.”
August 23 2006
Charlton 0 Manchester United 3
Solskjaer returned to Premiership action on this game, scoring his first
Premiership goal since April 2003. Goals by Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha
had put United 2-0 in front, when he tucked away Louis Saha’s low cross from
around 12 yards in stoppage time. Ferguson commented after the match that
“it was a great moment for Ole, United fans everywhere, the players and the
staff” and that “Ole has been through a torrid time with injuries for the
last two years, but he’s persevered and never lost faith and has got his
repayment tonight. Everyone is over the moon for him.” It certainly wasn’t
the best goal that the Norwegian striker had scored, but one of the most
memorable.