Eric Cantona scored 82 goals during his five-year stint with Manchester United.

While every United supporter will have their favourite, there can be little doubt that the most memorable goal that he scored was when Sunderland visited Old Trafford 17 years ago today. By that time, though, the home side were already four goals to the good.

Following a mundane start to proceedings, the match was brought to life in the 35th minute courtesy of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Paul Scholes saw his low shot from a Ryan Giggs cross saved by visiting goalkeeper Lionel Perez, but United's Norwegian striker was on hand to convert the rebound.

Then, two minutes before the break, Cantona doubled his team's advantage. Nicky Butt's run inside the penalty area was illegally halted by Perez and Cantona stepped up to score from the spot. It was his first goal in the Premier League since a 4-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the middle of September.

The encounter was effectively put out of Sunderland's reach three minutes after the restart when keeper Peter Schmeichel picked out Solskjaer with a long throw towards the halfway line. From there, his pace took him away from the visiting rearguard, before he was able to slot his shot beyond Perez.

A fourth goal arrived with 59 minutes played as Giggs swung over a corner towards the near post. It was met by an advancing Butt, who was able to guide a flicked headed effort into the corner of the net.

Then, with 10 minutes left to play, came the encounter's unforgettable juncture, courtesy of Cantona. The United skipper beat two opponents just inside the Sunderland half and drove forwards. Having exchanged passes with substitute Brian McClair, Cantona was now on the edge of the area, so with Perez off his line, he deftly chipped his compatriot to round off the scoring.

Little did anyone know at the time, but Cantona would go on to score just four more goals at Old Trafford - he retired at the end of the campaign.

MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Pallister, May, Irwin; Phil Neville; Butt, Scholes, Giggs; Cantona, Solskjaer

SUNDERLAND: Perez; Kubicki, Melville, Ord, Hall, Gray; Ball, Bracewell, Rae, Kelly; Russell