3rd May 2003 (Sat. – 12.30 p.m.) at Old Trafford (67,721)
Manchester United 4 (3) (Beckham 11, Van Nistelrooy 32 37 53): Carroll; Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O’Shea; Beckham, Keane, Scholes (Veron 69), Solskjaer (Forlan 77); Giggs (Butt 77), Van Nistelrooy. Subs. (not used) Barthez, P. Neville.
Charlton Athletic 1 (1) (Jensen 13): Kiely; Kishishev (Sankofa 73), Young, Fortune, Powell; Lisbie (Johansson 84), Jensen, Parker, Konchesky; Bartlett, Euell (Bart-Williams 77). Subs. (not used) Rachubka, Stuart.
Referee: Mark R. Halsey (Lancashire).
Order of goals: M CA M(3)
Booked: Fortune (87), foul on Nistelrooy.
Hat-trick hero: Van Nistelrooy scored his third hat-trick of the season, and his fourth for Manchester United, in his 100th game for the club. In all competitions (including European), he pushed up his goal tally for the season to 43.
Champions: The fact that Arsenal were beaten 3-2 by Leeds United at Highbury the following day meant that Manchester United in effect made certain of being crowned Premiership champions following the above victory.
Beckham’s farewell to Old Trafford: Speculation had been rife that the above match would be David Beckham’s final Old Trafford match for Manchester United. He had persistently been linked with a move to Real Madrid. In the event, he did join Real Madrid. This match was also Martin Edwards final home game as Chairman of Manchester United.
Attendance (67,721) was a record for the Premiership.
Television: Match was covered ‘live’ by Sky.
