On this day in 2008: Manchester United beat Chelsea in Champions League final

John Terry slipped, Edwin Van Der Sar saved and Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated on a dramatic night in Moscow as Manchester United overcame Chelsea to become kings of Europe for the third time.

After Sir Matt Busby’s men comprehensively beat Benfica 4-1 in 1968, it took the most remarkable of comebacks to overcome Bayern Munich 2-1 in 1999 as Ferguson lifted the Champions League for the first time.

There was similar drama as United won their third European Cup on this day in 2008 against Chelsea, with the first ever all-English final going down to football’s version of Russian roulette.

The opening 25 minutes at the Luzhniki Stadium failed to live up to the pre-match hype, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s header – his 42nd goal of the season – injected life into the showdown.

United had further chances but the Blues bounced back thanks to a massive slice of luck just before the break, with Frank Lampard tucking home after Michael Essien’s 25-yard shot took two deflections.

Avram Grant’s men kicked on in the second half and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork, but the match went into extra-time and the goal frame was again rattled as Lampard took aim shortly after the restart.

Terry cleared a goalbound effort from Ryan Giggs off the line before Drogba was sensationally sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic as tempers frayed in the closing stages. The match ended in the tensest of shootouts.

After the first four spot-kicks were scored, star turn Ronaldo saw his stuttered attempt saved by Petr Cech.

The Portugal international’s devastation turned to almighty relief with the match-deciding spot-kick at 4-4, when Blues skipper Terry slipped and sent the ball onto outside of the post in the Russian rain.

Into sudden death, Van Der Sar was the