Two goals in the second period of extra time saved Manchester United's embarrassment and broke Bury's hearts at Old Trafford last night.
It took a superb strike from Ole Solskjaer, and another from his Norwegian countryman Erik Nevland to force United into the last 16.
It does not matter that United fielded a shadow side, full of kids and squad players. Bury deserved their standing ovation for a spirited, battling display. There was no Schmeichel, Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Yorke, Cole, Stam, Keane etc, but the seemingly bottomless pit of talent at United was clear. United fielded only Phil Neville from the side that drew at Derby.
In for his debut was 19-year-old reserve top scorer Jonathan Greening, while midfielder Mark Wilson started his first senior game for United, having got on as substitute in Copenhagen against Brondby last week. David May played his first game of the season, while Henning Berg skippered United, with half the side teenagers.
United brought on Norwegian striker Erik Nevland at the break for Northern Irish international Phil Mulryne and he should have scored after 53 minutes when he scuffed a good chance after excellent build-up work from Greening and Wilson.
The United breakthrough finally came in that 106th minute when Solskjaer found a rare yard of space among Bury's battling defenders to drive his shot in off the post from 18 yards past Dean Kiely.
Greening could have really finished it off three minutes later when he struck a post after jinking his way round two defenders. Four minutes from the end it was all over when Nevland arrived at the far post to force home Wes Brown's cross.
Manchester Utd: Van Der Gouw, May, P Neville, Curtis, Cruyff, Solskjaer, Berg, Clegg (Brown 70), Mulryne (Nevland 46), Wilson (Scholes 70), Greening. Subs Not Used: G. Neville, Cooke. Booked: May. Goals: Solskjaer 106, Nevland 115.
Bury: Kiely, Woodward, Barrick, Daws, Lucketti, Redmond, Swailes, Patterson (Matthews 100), D'Jaffo (Preece 58), Johnrose, Ellis (James 63). Subs Not Used: Kenny, Foster. Booked: Barrick.
Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).
