Today marks the 68th anniversary of the final match Sir Matt Busby’s Manchester United played before the Munich air disaster.
When the Busby Babes set off on their travels to Belgrade 68 years ago, nobody thought it would be for their final match together as a team.
Four days before that, First Division champions Manchester United beat Arsenal 5-4 in front of 63,578 fans at Highbury.
Duncan Edwards, Sir Bobby Charlton and Tommy Taylor all scored against Jack Crayston’s Arsenal side.
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The next step for Sir Matt Busby’s young side was European glory. That was still very much on the agenda after beating Red Star Belgrade in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
All thoughts were on Europe and whether United could hold on to that slender lead from the first leg.
Sir Matt Busby and his team before Manchester United take on Red Star Belgrade
Photo by Keystone/Getty Images
Red Star Belgrade 3-3 Manchester United
Manchester United decided to charter a plane for the European quarter-final after serious delays returning home from a preliminary round tie.
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Having won the reserve fixture against Red Star Belgrade in Manchester, United only had to draw to make sure of a place in the European Cup semi-final, the round in which they were beaten the previous year.
The Belgrade Stadium was packed to capacity with everyone eager to see the Busby Babes.
The Busby Babes reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1957 and 1958
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
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United took the lead after two minutes when Dennis Viollet went through on goal before sending his effort past Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper Vladimir Beara.
The second and third goals both came from 20-year-old Charlton before the half-time whistle.
However, just two minutes into the second half, Red Star Belgrade scored through Bora Kostic. It was the first of two goals Kostic scored against United on the night as they completed a comeback, with the game ending 3-3.
The tie ended 5-4 on aggregate in United’s favour as Busby’s side reached the European Cup semi-finals for a second consecutive year.
United had plenty of reasons to feel unhappy with Herr Kainer’s interpretations as referee, which helped inflame the Yugoslav crowd against United throughout the game.
All of United’s players left the pitch as heroes. A famous photo of the team that night is still celebrated to this day, as they stood shoulder to shoulder. It’s one of the most iconic in the club’s history.
AC Milan beat Man Utd in European Cup semi-finals
Since the semi-finals took place just three months after the Munich air disaster, killing eight players and ending the careers of others, Jimmy Murphy stood in as manager as Busby recovered.
United were looking to reach their first-ever European Cup final, but they were underdogs against the Italian side.
That didn’t stop Murphy’s side from coming from a goal down to win 2-1, thanks to goals from Viollet and Ernie Taylor.
United went into the first leg as underdogs, but fought back from a goal down to win 2-1.
The European run ended for United after a 4-0 defeat in the second leg, meaning the tie ended in Milan’s favour with a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.
AC Milan went on to lose against Real Madrid in the 1958 European Cup final.
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