BENFICA

Manchester United vs SL Benfica 1968 European Cup Final 29th May 1968 DVD

Manchester Uniteds dream of capturing the coverted European Cup was finally fulfilled on a balmy, never-to-be-forgotten, night at the Wembley Stadium. It was the dramatic conclusion to a twelve year quest to claim the enormous trophy, which had began, under the guidance of legendary manager Matt Busby, in 1956 when United became the first English club to enter the competition.

An near capacity crowd packed Wembley for the eagerly-awaited clash, but it wasn't until the second half the the contest really got into its stride. Bobby Charlton gave United the lead early in the second half, but with ten minutes remaining Jamie Graca scored to put Benfica on level terms.

No further goals in normal time meant that an extra half hour was required to decide the destination of the gleaming trophy, but United didn't need that long for within ten minutes George Best, Brian Kidd, (on his 19th birthday), and Bobby Charlton had scored to put United on course for glory.

It was a particularly poignant occasion for Busby, Charlton and Foulkes for they had survived the Munich Air Disaster of ten years earlier when 23 people, including 11 players and staff, perished on the snowy wastes of a Bavarian airfield when their plane crashed after two previous attempts to take-off had been aborted. The United party had stopped off in the German city to re-fuel on their journey home from a European cup-tie against Red Star in Belgrade.

Manchester United had become English football's first ever 'Kings of Europe' and twenty four hours later there were close on a million people thronging Central Manchester when the team paraded the European Cup through the streets.

It was the pinnacle of achievement for the club at the time and the triumph was further recognised soon after when Matt Busby was knighted in the Queens Birthday Honours List.

Bonus Feature:'The Boys Of 68'

Sir Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton re-live that Magical night at Wembley together, as this wonderful documentary takes the players and management back to that May evening in 1968 beneath the twin towers.

Packed full of footage from the night and interviews with a host of Manchester United legends who talk about their experiences and memories, as the club and Sir Matt Busby finally achieved their dreams.