21st May 2008: Terry slips as United win the Champions League in Moscow

Manchester United triumphed 6-5 on penalties in the all-English 2008 Champions League final, after captain John Terry missed the chance to win it for Chelsea.

Following a 1-1 draw in normal time, the Blues’ skipper stepped up for the fifth penalty but slipped on the wet Luzhniki Stadium turf and saw his effort clip the outside of the post.

Edwin Van der Sar then saved Nicolas Anelka’s decisive spot-kick to secure the trophy for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, at around 1am the next morning local time.

After a tense start to the match, Cristiano Ronaldo headed past Petr Čech to give United a 26^th minute lead, having been picked out by Wes Brown.

Ronaldo opens the scoring for United (credit: The Times)

Two impressive saves in quick succession from the Czech goalkeeper stopped the Reds from doubling their lead and then on the stroke of half time, Chelsea were level.

Michael Essien’s long-range shot deflected off both Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand, wrong footing Van der Sar, before falling for an onrushing Frank Lampard to slot into the net.

The game was then turned on its head in the second half, during which United were forced on to the back foot for long periods.

But the closest Chelsea got to taking the lead during normal time was when Didier Drogba stuck the post from range in the 77^th minute.

In extra time, both teams came close to snatching a dramatic winner; first Lampard hit the bar, before Ryan Giggs saw an effort cleared off the line by Terry.

As the match edged towards penalties, Chelsea’s star striker Drogba was sent off by Slovakian referee Luboš Michel for slapping Vidić in a melee.

It meant another player would have to step up and take the fifth spot-kick in the shootout.

At the United end of the Moscow stadium, Carlos Tevez, Michael Ballack, Michael Carrick and Juliano Belletti all scored to make it 2-2.

Ronaldo then saw his penalty saved by Čech, allowing Lampard to give Chelsea a 3-2 lead.

Owen Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani all subsequently scored, to leave the shootout at 4-4 as Terry stepped up for what could have been the final, winning penalty.

Though he sent Van der Sar the wrong way, his standing foot gave way on the damp grass and made him skew his effort as he fell to the ground.

It agonisingly clipped the outside of the post and Terry’s chance at glory had gone in the most painful fashion.

Successful penalties from Anderson, Salomon Kalou and Giggs then followed in sudden death, before the Chelsea’s Anelka saw his strike saved.

United captain Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lift the Champions League trophy in the early hours of the Moscow morning (credit: UEFA)

The shootout victory handed United their third European Cup in as many finals, following previous triumphs in 1968 and 1999.

Chelsea would have to wait another four years before lifting the trophy for the first time, when they beat hosts Munich on penalties after another 1-1 draw.