Champions League 1999/00 : Manchester United vs Fiorentina 3-1
Champions League group phase
15 March 2000, Old Trafford
Goals : Cole 19', Keane 32', Yorke 70', Batistuta 16'
Manchester United: Bosnich; G.Neville, Berg, Stam, Irwin; Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs; Yorke, Cole.
Subs not used: Van der Gouw, Butt, Sheringham, P.Neville, Solskjaer, Fortune, Silvestre.
Fiorentina: Toldo; Repka, Adani, Pierlini, Torricelli (Amoroso 75); Di Livio (Tarozzi 75), Rossitto (sent off 61), Rui Costa, Heinrich; Batistuta, Mijatovic (Chiesa 62). Subs not used: Taglialatela, Fircano, Okon, Bressan.
On this day (15 March) in 2000, United welcomed Fiorentina in the penultimate game of the Champions League group phase knowing a win would seal a place in the knockout stages.
However, the Reds were very wary of the visitors, having lost 2-0 in Florence in November. La Viola had also won on their last visit to England, Gabriel Batistuta's late goal seeing off Arsenal at Wembley.
And it was Batistuta who put the visitors ahead, letting fly from 25 yards with a swerving shot that soared past Mark Bosnich and silenced the Stretford End.
But three minutes later, Andy Cole pulled Gary Neville's pass out of the air, swivelled past Tomas Repka and fired a low shot beyond Francesco Toldo, passing Denis Law's European goalscoring record in the process.
With the Italian side under increasing pressure, it was no surprise that the Reds took the lead as Roy Keane lashed home the rebound after Henning Berg headed against the crossbar.
The Reds began the second half on the front foot and the game was effectively over for La Viola when Fabio Rossitto was shown a straight red card for a crudelunge on Dwight Yorke.
The in-form striker, who had netted a hat-trick four days earlier, made absolutely sure for United, planting a header beyond Toldo from Ryan Giggs' cross.
Three goals and three points for Sir Alex's side, who booked their place in the last eight with a game to spare.
