On this day in sport: Ferguson opens United account, Arsenal's Champions League heartbreak
It is a date that will live long in the memory for fans of Man United and Barcelona but May 17 will not be fondly recalled by Arsenal fans.
Published : May 17, 2020 12:58 IST
May 17 is a momentous sporting date that Arsenal fans will not remember fondly.
Fourteen years ago on this day, the Gunners lost the Champions League final against Barcelona in Paris.
This date also represents the 30-year anniversary of a famous day in the history of Manchester United, which won the first trophy of Alex Ferguson's era as manager.
Here we look back at some of the top moments to occur on May 17 in the world of sport. READ:
2006 - Arsenal rue Barcelona comeback
Arsenal was within 15 minutes of winning its first Champions League on this day in 2006, when it ultimately suffered a painful defeat to Barcelona at the Stade de France.
Remarkably, despite having goalkeeper Jens Lehmann sent off after only 18 minutes, a Sol Campbell header put the Gunners ahead, a lead they still held entering the 76th minute as their fans dreamed of glory.
A star-studded Barca team which included Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Deco had not found a way through, but it was substitute Henrik Larsson who turned the game.
Man of the match Eto'o scored the equaliser and the inspirational Larsson set up an unlikely scorer for the winner 10 minutes from time, full-back Juliano Belletti.
Thierry Henry had missed a chance to put the Gunners two goals up and a year later he would end up joining Barca, going on to help them to win the 2009 Champions League along with Eto’o and Lionel Messi.
Arsenal has not made it back to the final since – it crashed out in the Champions League knockout stages for 11 consecutive seasons after this loss, its best effort being a run to the 2009 semifinals.
The club has spent the past three seasons in the Europa League, while Barca built on its 2009 success with further victories in 2011 and 2015, moving on to five titles overall. READ:European Leagues: How Liverpool went comfortably ahead
1990 - First of many United trophies for Ferguson
In a magnificent era of success, Ferguson led Manchester United to 28 major trophies, including 13 Premier League titles prior to his retirement in 2013.
The opening years of his tenure were less glorious, though, and the club's first trophy was a crucial moment to launch a spectacular run of silverware lasting over two decades.
It was the FA Cup in 1990 where Ferguson earned his first triumph.
A dramatic extra-time equaliser from Mark Hughes earned United a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace in the first match at Wembley, and in those days that meant a reply rather than a penalty shoot-out.
The return game five days later, which came on May 17, was less exciting, but Lee Martin's goal in the 59th minute was enough to give Ferguson's men a 1-0 victory.
After that first trophy in four years, a win in the European Cup Winners' Cup followed the next season, and United never looked back.
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2019 - Koepka makes major history at the US PGA
Brooks Koepka was already a sensation at golf majors before his magnificent performance at the US PGA Championship on this day a year ago.
He already had three major titles and nine finishes inside the top 10 over a five-year span before he took things to a whole new level at the notoriously difficult Bethpage Black course in New York.
While golfing legend Tiger Woods was missing the cut, Koepka stormed into a seven-shot lead after the first two rounds.
His rounds of 63 and 65 gave him the lowest 36-hole total score in the 159-year history of professional major championship play.
Koepka slowed in his following rounds, with efforts of 70 and 74, but he was still crowned champion by two shots over Dustin Johnson thanks to his extraordinary scoring across the opening two days.