Since it first began nearly 150 years ago, the FA Cup has been the stage for some incredible matches that have become an iconic part of English football’s heritage replayed countless times on televisions all over the world. The following list of FA Cup games, in our opinion are the ‘Top 10 Matches of All Time’ and great examples of the magic that this famous competition can weave when it is least expected.
10. Arsenal vs Manchester United (1979, FA Cup Final)
Venue: Wembley, London (Attendance: 99,219)
Match Referee: Ron Challis (Kent)
|
Arsenal |
3 – 2 |
Manchester United |
|
Talbot 12’ |
McQueen 86’ |
|
|
Stapleton 43' |
McIlroy 88' |
|
|
Sunderland 89' |
|
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Blackpool |
Bolton Wanderers |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Pat Jennings |
GK |
1 |
Gary Bailey |
|
RB |
2 |
Pat Rice (c) |
RB |
2 |
Jimmy Nicholl |
|
LB |
3 |
Sammy Nelson |
LB |
3 |
Arthur Albiston |
|
CM |
4 |
Brian Talbot |
CM |
4 |
Sammy McIlroy |
|
CB |
5 |
David O'Leary |
CB |
5 |
Gordon McQueen |
|
CB |
6 |
Willie Young |
CB |
6 |
Martin Buchan (c) |
|
RM |
7 |
Liam Brady |
RM |
7 |
Steve Coppell |
|
CF |
8 |
Alan Sunderland |
CF |
8 |
Jimmy Greenhoff |
|
CF |
9 |
Frank Stapleton |
CF |
9 |
Joe Jordan |
|
CM |
10 |
David Price |
CM |
10 |
Lou Macari |
|
LM |
11 |
Graham Rix |
LM |
11 |
Mickey Thomas |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
DF |
12 |
Steve Walford |
DF |
12 |
Brian Greenhoff |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Terry Neill |
Dave Sexton |
||||
Match Summary
The final match on this rundown of the 'Top 10 Best FA Cup Matches of All Time' is also broadly regarded as the most exciting finish to an FA Cup Final that has ever taken place hence it's tagline as 'The Five-Minute Final'. Arsenal and Manchester United have always had an undertone of a fierce rivalry throughout their histories so when they met in the 1979 match at Wembley, the watching world was expecting sparks to fly. Unfortunately, neither side could really get a grip on the game but The Gunners somehow found themselves 2 – 0 to the good at half-time with goals from Talbot and Irish talisman Frank Stapleton. However, when McQueen pulled a goal back for The Red Devils in the 86th minute, the match suddenly exploded into life. A dramatic equaliser followed less than two minutes later when McIlroy dribbled past a couple of Arsenal players to put the Manchester United fans into joyous celebrations and dreaming of a winning goal or extra-time. The unexpected happened though as a great dribble from Liam Brady split straight through the now adrenaline-fuelled United midfield to set up Rix for a cross from the left that Alan Sunderland poked into Bailey's nets to unbelievably give Arsenal a last-minute winning goal. It was a breathless ending that is forever remembered by FA Cup aficionados and aptly completes this list of the best FA Cup matches.
9. Blackpool vs Bolton Wanderers (1953, FA CUP Final)
Venue: Wembley, London (Attendance: 100,000 approx.)
Match Referee: B. M. Griffiths (Newport)
|
Blackpool |
4 – 3 |
Bolton Wanderers |
|
Mortensen 35’, 68', 89' |
Lofthouse 2’ |
|
|
Perry 90 +2' |
Moir 39’ |
|
Bell 55' |
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Blackpool |
Bolton Wanderers |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
George Farm |
GK |
1 |
Stan Hanson |
|
RB |
2 |
Eddie Shimwell |
RB |
2 |
John Ball |
|
LB |
3 |
Tommy Garrett |
LB |
3 |
Ralph Banks |
|
RH |
4 |
Ewan Fenton |
RH |
4 |
Johnny Wheeler |
|
CH |
5 |
Harry Johnston (c) |
CH |
5 |
Malcolm Barrass |
|
LH |
6 |
Cyril Robinson |
LH |
6 |
Eric Bell |
|
OR |
7 |
Stanley Matthews |
OR |
7 |
Doug Holden |
|
IR |
8 |
Ernie Taylor |
IR |
8 |
Willie Moir |
|
CF |
9 |
Stan Mortensen |
CF |
9 |
Nat Lofthouse |
|
IL |
10 |
Jackie Mudie |
IL |
10 |
Harold Hassall |
|
OL |
11 |
Bill Perry |
OL |
11 |
Bobby Langton |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
N/A |
N/A |
||||
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Joe Smith |
Bill Ridding |
||||
Match Summary
One of the most famous FA Cup Final's of all time, 'The Matthews Final' is still fondly remembered nowadays and will always have a place in the greatest matches ever played. It was a seven-goal epic that had it all - the only FA Cup final to feature a hat-trick, the first football match attended by the reigning monarch Elizabeth II, a last minute equaliser and an injury-time winner, the first football match considered for a major TV audience – but is known in the majority for the performance of Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. The famous winger inspired his Blackpool team to come back from 3 – 1 down to win 4 – 3 and finally claim the trophy after being on the runners-up side twice in the previous five years. Stan Mortensen's second goal of his three was laid on a plate to him after a terrific cross from Matthews before Mortensen's free-kick in the 89th minute equalised for Blackpool. With only seconds remaining, Matthews teased his way down the right wing, as he had done so many times in his career, and delivered the perfect cross for Bill Perry to score the winning goal with a low shot into the Bolton net. Apparently, even in defeat, Bolton's star striker Nat Lofthouse (who scored the opening goal of the final) stood and applauded Matthews for the virtuoso display of skills he showed in claiming the title for his beloved Blackpool.
8. Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United (2010, FA Cup Fourth Round)
Venue: White Hart Lane, London (Attendance: 35,750)
Match Referee:Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
|
Tottenham Hotspur |
2 – 2 |
Leeds United |
|
Crouch 42' |
Beckford 52', 90 +6' (pen.) |
|
|
Pavlyuchenko 75' |
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Tottenham Hotspur |
Leeds United |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Heurelho Gomes |
GK |
1 |
Casper Ankergren |
|
RB |
2 |
Alan Hutton |
RB |
2 |
Jason Crowe |
|
LB |
3 |
Gareth Bale |
CB |
3 |
Patrick Kisnorbo |
|
CB |
19 |
Sebastian Bassong |
CB |
26 |
Leigh Bromby |
|
CB |
20 |
Michael Dawson (c) |
DM |
5 |
Michael Doyle |
|
CM |
8 |
Jermaine Jenas |
CM |
8 |
Neil Kilkenny |
|
CM |
14 |
Luka Modric |
CM |
14 |
Jonny Howson (c) |
|
RM |
21 |
Niko Kranjcar |
CM |
16 |
Bradley Johnson |
|
LM |
25 |
Danny Rose |
LB |
22 |
Andrew Hughes |
|
CF |
15 |
Peter Crouch |
CF |
9 |
Jermaine Beckford |
|
CF |
18 |
Jermaine Defoe |
LF |
23 |
Robert Snodgrass |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
GK |
27 |
Ben Alnwick |
GK |
36 |
Alan Martin |
|
DF |
16 |
Kyle Naughton |
DF |
17 |
Lubo Michalik |
|
DF |
30 |
Dorian Dervite |
DF |
32 |
Aidan White |
|
MF |
12 |
Wilson Palacios |
MF |
7 |
David Prutton |
|
MF |
24 |
Jamie O'Hara |
MF |
18 |
Andy Robinson |
|
CF |
9 |
Roman Pavlyuchenko |
CF |
10 |
Luciano Becchio |
|
CF |
10 |
Robbie Keane |
FW |
13 |
Mike Grella |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Harry Redknapp |
Simon Grayson |
||||
Match Summary
After sensationally knocking out Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Third Round of 2010, Leeds United's reward was an equally tough tie at high-flying Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup that year. Simon Grayson's League One team were ranked forty-one places below Spurs in league terms but had one of the country's in-form strikers, Jermaine Beckford, and some talented youngsters in their side. Likewise, Spurs had their own stars in future Real Madrid 'galacticos' Gareth Bale and Luke Modric and ran Leeds ragged in the first half to be one-nil up through Crouch's goal. A vociferous away support were giving Leeds a 'twelth man' mentality however and they equalised soon after the break when that man Beckford scrambled in a close-range goal. Counter-attack after counter-attack came from Redknapp's side so Ankergren had to be at his best to make saves from Defoe and Modric before Pavlyuchenko struck to put Spurs ahead. Leeds were not done though and amazingly took the tie to a replay when Beckford smashed in a superb penalty in the 6th minute of stoppage time in front of the Yorkshire fans who celebrated wildly as it was virtually the last kick of the match. The match between Spurs and Leeds has been discussed for decades amoungst both sets of fans on many social blogs and forums including www.spurscommunity.co.uk
7. Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United (1993, FA Cup Semi-Final)
Venue: Wembley, London (Attendance: 75,364)
Match Referee: Kelvin Morton (Suffolk)
|
Sheffield Wednesday |
2 – 1 (a.e.t) |
Sheffield United |
|
Waddle 2’ |
Cork 44’ |
|
|
Bright 108' |
|
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Sheffield Wednesday |
Sheffield United |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Chris Woods |
GK |
1 |
Alan Kelly |
|
DF |
2 |
Roland Nilsson |
DF |
2 |
Kevin Gage |
|
DF |
3 |
Nigel Worthington |
DF |
3 |
Dane Whitehouse |
|
MF |
4 |
Carlton Palmer |
MF |
4 |
John Gannon |
|
DF |
5 |
John Harkes |
DF |
5 |
Brian Gayle (c) |
|
DF |
6 |
Viv Anderson (c) |
DF |
6 |
John Pemberton |
|
MF |
7 |
Danny Wilson |
MF |
7 |
Franz Carr |
|
MF |
8 |
Chris Waddle |
MF |
8 |
Mitch Ward |
|
CF |
9 |
Paul Warhurst |
CF |
9 |
Alan Cork |
|
CF |
10 |
Mark Bright |
CF |
10 |
Brian Deane |
|
MF |
11 |
John Sheridan |
MF |
11 |
Glyn Hodges |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
FW |
12 |
David Hirst |
MF |
12 |
Jamie Hoyland |
|
MF |
14 |
Graham Hyde |
FW |
14 |
Adrian Littlejohn |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Trevor Francis |
Dave Bassett |
||||
Match Summary
The 'Steel City' derby between Wednesday and United was always a feisty affair as you would expect from a city that had two major clubs. In 1993 though it took on a new significance as both teams from Sheffield went on fantastic FA Cup runs before fate took control and they were ominously drawn against each other in the Semi-Final. Due to an obviously high demand for tickets, the FA changed the venue of the match from Leeds' Elland Road to Wembley and were not disappointed as it staged one of the most colourful and atmospheric matches of the 90s. After only two minutes, Wednesday's 'wing wizard' Waddle scored a sublime curling 30-yard free-kick before The Blades even had to chance to settle down. United equalised just before half-time when bearded veteran Alan Cork snuck a shot under Woods as the red and white half of Wembley willed the ball to cross the line and into the net. The match was played at a frentic pace but neither side could grab a winner so it went into extra-time where striker Mark Bright popped up in the 108th minute with a near-post header to send The Owls fans crazy. Wednesday held on to book their place in the final whilst Bassett's Blades could only hold their heads high after a heroic effort fell just short.
6. Sutton United vs Coventry City (1989, FA Cup Third Round)
Venue: Borough Sports Ground, London (Attendance: 8,000 approx.)
Match Referee: Alf Buksh (London)
|
Sutton United |
2 – 1 |
Coventry City |
|
Rains 42’ |
Phillips 52’ |
|
|
Hanlan 59' |
|
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Sutton United |
Coventry City |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Trevor Roffey |
GK |
1 |
Steve Ogrizovic |
|
DF |
2 |
Robin Jones |
DF |
2 |
Brian Borrows |
|
DF |
3 |
Tony Rains (c) |
DF |
3 |
David Phillips |
|
DF |
4 |
Nigel Golley |
DF |
4 |
Steve Sedgley |
|
DF |
5 |
Vernon Pratt |
DF |
5 |
Brian Kilcline (c) |
|
MF |
6 |
Paul Rogers |
DF |
6 |
Trevor Peake |
|
MF |
7 |
Mickey Stephens |
MF |
7 |
Dave Bennett |
|
MF |
8 |
Phil Dawson |
MF |
8 |
David Speedie |
|
FW |
9 |
Lennie Dennis |
FW |
9 |
Cyrille Regis |
|
FW |
10 |
Paul McKinnon |
FW |
10 |
Lloyd McGrath |
|
MF |
11 |
Matthew Hanlan |
MF |
11 |
David Smith |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
DF |
12 |
Steve Bangs |
FW |
12 |
Keith Houchen |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Barrie Williams |
John Sillett |
||||
Match Summary
It is a very rare occurrence in the FA Cup for a non-league team to have the tactical nous, resources, playing talent, fitness and fortune to be able to beat a league team. It is virtually impossible for this to happen when the league team in question is from the top division in domestic football. It did though, and still does, happen occasionally when the 'magic' is in the air and one of the most famous of these times was when lowly Sutton United beat First Division Coventry City in 1989. Coventry themselves had been the underdogs when they amazingly won the cup just nineteen months prior but when Sutton captain Tony Rains headed the Conference team into a one-nil lead, The Sky Blues started to panic. Parity was restored in the second half as Phillips equalised to give the away fans cause to breathe a sigh of relief. Just minutes later however, the magic came to into play as Hanlan struck from close range to give United the lead again. An onslaught from Coventry ensued but Sutton 'keeper Roffey made a series of great saves before the match was over and a celebratory pitch invasion was filmed by the onlooking television cameras to be archived in the annals of FA Cup giantkillings.
5. Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic (2013, FA Cup Final)
Venue: Wembley, London (Attendance: 86,254)
Match Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
|
Manchester City |
0 – 1 |
Wigan Athletic |
|
Watson 90 +1' |
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Manchester City |
Wigan Athletic |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Joe Hart |
GK |
1 |
Joel Robles |
|
RB |
5 |
Pablo Zabaleta |
RB |
17 |
Emmerson Boyce (c) |
|
CB |
4 |
Vincent Kompany (c) |
CB |
33 |
Paul Scharner |
|
CB |
33 |
Matija Nastasic |
CB |
3 |
Antolin Alcaraz |
|
LB |
22 |
Gael Clichy |
LB |
18 |
Roger Espinoza |
|
RM |
21 |
David Silva |
RM |
4 |
James McCarthy |
|
CM |
42 |
Yaya Toure |
CM |
16 |
James McArthur |
|
CM |
18 |
Gareth Barry |
LM |
14 |
Jordi Gomez |
|
LM |
8 |
Samir Nasri |
RF |
15 |
Callum McManaman |
|
CF |
16 |
Sergio Aguero |
CF |
2 |
Arouna Kone |
|
CF |
32 |
Carlos Tevez |
LF |
10 |
Shaun Maloney |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
GK |
30 |
Costel Pantilimon |
GK |
26 |
Ali Al-Habsi |
|
DF |
6 |
Joleon Lescott |
DF |
5 |
Gary Caldwell |
|
DF |
13 |
Aleksandar Kolarov |
DF |
25 |
Roman Golobart |
|
MF |
7 |
James Milner |
MF |
8 |
Ben Watson |
|
MF |
14 |
Javi Garcia |
MF |
20 |
Fraser Fyvie |
|
MF |
17 |
Jack Rodwell |
FW |
9 |
Franco Di Santo |
|
FW |
10 |
Edin Dzeko |
FW |
11 |
Angelo Henriquez |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Robert Mancini |
Roberto Martinez |
||||
Match Summary
In recent years the 'blue half of Manchester' has become a force to be reckoned with in English football as their wealthy Arab ownership has seen Manchester City injected with investment on an unprecedented level. So when they found themselves pitted against plucky Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Final in 2013, the City fans must have thought it would be a straightforward victory. However, Roberto Martinez's men had other ideas. Straight from kick-off, The Latics shocked City with a magnificent display of counter-attack passing, strong hold-up play and passion in droves. Their young English winger, Callum McManaman, provided one of the best individual displays ever seen at Wembley as he frightened the City defence time and time again with his direct attacking style. Despite a host of chances for Wigan, Man City were strong enough to keep the match at 0 – 0 until the very last minute when substitute Ben Watson headed the ball into Joe Hart's net from a Maloney corner. The Wigan fans were in raptures as they won their first ever major trophy whilst neutral fans were also delighted after watching one of the best FA Cup Finals of modern times.
4. Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (1990, FA Cup Semi-Final)
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham (Attendance: 38,389)
Match Referee: George Courtney (County Durham)
|
Crystal Palace |
4 – 3 (a.e.t) |
Liverpool |
|
Bright 46’ |
Rush 14’ |
|
|
O'Reilly 70' |
McMahon 81’ |
|
|
Gray 88' |
Barnes 83' (pen.) |
|
|
Pardew 109' |
|
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Crystal Palace |
Liverpool |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Nigel Martyn |
GK |
1 |
Bruce Grobbelaar |
|
DF |
2 |
John Pemberton |
RB |
2 |
Glenn Hysen |
|
DF |
3 |
Richard Shaw |
LB |
3 |
David Burrows |
|
MF |
4 |
Andy Gray |
CB |
4 |
Gary Gillespie |
|
DF |
5 |
Gary O'Reilly |
MF |
5 |
Ronnie Whelan |
|
DF |
6 |
Andy Thorn |
CB |
6 |
Alan Hansen (c) |
|
MF |
7 |
Phil Barber |
MF |
7 |
Peter Beardsley |
|
MF |
8 |
Geoff Thomas (c) |
MF |
8 |
Ray Houghton |
|
CF |
9 |
Mark Bright |
CF |
9 |
Ian Rush |
|
MF |
10 |
John Salako |
MF |
10 |
John Barnes |
|
MF |
11 |
Alan Pardew |
MF |
11 |
Steve McMahon |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
FW |
12 |
Ian Wright |
MF |
12 |
Barry Venison |
|
DF |
14 |
David Madden |
DF |
14 |
Steve Staunton |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Steve Coppell |
Kenny Dalglish |
||||
Match Summary
Earlier on in the 1989-1990 First Division season, Liverpool's multi-talented team had dismantled Crystal Palace with a devastating 9 – 0 victory at Anfield against the newly-promoted South London club. One can assuredly say that this embarassing result must have weighed heavily in the minds of The Eagles' players in the build-up to the famous FA Cup Semi-Final clash at Villa Park in 1990. Welsh striking superstar Ian Rush had given Liverpool a 1 – 0 lead at half-time but the fireworks only truly started when the whistle blew for the start of the second half. Buoyed by an early equaliser by Bright after the break, Palace took a dream 2 – 1 lead in the 70th minute through O'Reilly but were soon transported into a nightmare when Liverpool rallied to go 3 – 2 up with only ten minutes remaining. Using a huge chunk of positive mental attitude, Coppell's team never gave up the match and grabbed a last-minute equaliser as an Andy Gray header took the match into extra-time. As both sides toiled on a hot day in Birmingham, it was Alan Pardew who headed the seventh and decisive goal of the game in the 109th minute to earn Palace their first ever trip to Wembley and sweet vengeance. This match was recently featured as one of the top high scoring FA Cup matches at the Scorum website and highlights of this unbelievable semi final match can be found at the BBC website.
3. Colchester United vs Leeds United (1971, FA Cup Fifth Round)
Venue: Layer Road, Colchester (Attendance: 16,000 approx.)
Match Referee: D. Lydon (Birmingham)
|
Colchester United |
3 – 2 |
Leeds United |
|
Crawford 18’, 25' |
Hunter 60’ |
|
|
Simmons 55' |
Giles 73’ |
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Colchester United |
Leeds United |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Graham Smith |
GK |
1 |
Gary Sprake |
|
DF |
2 |
Brian Hall |
RB |
2 |
Paul Reaney |
|
DF |
3 |
Bobby Cram (c) |
LB |
3 |
Terry Cooper |
|
DF |
4 |
John Gilchrist |
MF |
4 |
Mick Bates |
|
DF |
5 |
Brian Garvey |
CB |
5 |
Jack Charlton (c) |
|
MF |
6 |
John Kurila |
CB |
6 |
Norman Hunter |
|
MF |
7 |
Brian Lewis |
MF |
7 |
Peter Lorimer |
|
FW |
8 |
Dave Simmons |
CF |
8 |
Allan Clarke |
|
MF |
9 |
Mick Mahon |
CF |
9 |
Mick Jones |
|
CF |
10 |
Ray Crawford |
MF |
10 |
Johnny Giles |
|
MF |
11 |
Brian Gibbs |
MF |
11 |
Paul Madeley |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
DF |
12 |
Micky Cook |
FW |
12 |
Rod Belfitt |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
Dick Graham |
Don Revie |
||||
Match Summary
Some of the best known 'Giant Killings' in FA Cup history have involved Leeds United, usually adversely, and perhaps the biggest of them all came in the 1971 Fifth Round at Colchester United of the Fourth Division of English football. When the draw was made, the famous Leeds team of the 60s/70s were typically fighting for the First Division Championship and nobody in their right mind would have thought for one second that they could be beaten by a lower-division club in that era. In Ray Crawford however, Colchester had a striker of real pedigree who had played at the highest level earlier in his career and had a healthy goalscoring record against the West Yorkshire club. So when he headed one goal and swept in another goal after only 25 minutes played, the alarm bells started in earnest that the Essex club could be about to make history. In a match where Colchester's long-ball tactic wreaked havoc in Leeds' penalty area, mainly due to goalkeeper Gary Sprake's eccentric handling of crosses, it became 3 – 0 soon into the second half through Simmons' goal. A late fightback from the deeply wounded Goliaths brought the scoreline back to 3 – 2 but Colchester held on to secure their 'David status' as legendary FA Cup giantkillers.
2. Liverpool vs West Ham United (2006, FA CUP Final)
Venue: Millenium Stadium, Cardiff (Attendance: 71,140)
Match Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
|
Liverpool |
3 – 3 (a.e.t) |
West Ham United |
|
Cisse 32’ |
Carragher 21' (o.g.) |
|
|
Gerrard 54’, 90 +1' |
Ashton 28' |
|
|
Konchesky 63' |
|
Penalties (3 – 1) |
||
|
Hamman (Score) |
Zamora (Miss) |
|
|
Hyypia (Miss) |
Sheringham (Score) |
|
|
Gerrard (Score) |
Konchesky (Miss) |
|
|
Riise (Score) |
Ferdinand (Miss) |
|
Line-ups: |
||||||
|
Liverpool |
West Ham United |
|||||
|
GK |
25 |
Pepe Reina |
GK |
32 |
Shaka Hislop |
|
|
RB |
3 |
Steve Finnan |
RB |
2 |
Lionel Scaloni |
|
|
CB |
23 |
Jamie Carragher |
CB |
5 |
Anton Ferdinand |
|
|
CB |
4 |
Sami Hyypia |
CB |
4 |
Danny Gabbidon |
|
|
LB |
6 |
John Arne Riise |
LB |
3 |
Paul Konchesky |
|
|
RM |
8 |
Steven Gerrard (c) |
RM |
15 |
Yossi Benayoun |
|
|
CM |
14 |
Xabi Alonso |
CM |
20 |
Nigel Reo-Coker (c) |
|
|
CM |
22 |
Mohamed Sissoko |
CM |
6 |
Carl Fletcher |
|
|
LM |
7 |
Harry Kewell |
LM |
11 |
Matthew Etherington |
|
|
CF |
15 |
Peter Crouch |
CF |
10 |
Marlon Harewood |
|
|
CF |
9 |
Djibril Cisse |
CF |
9 |
Dean Ashton |
|
|
Subs: |
||||||
|
GK |
1 |
Jerzy Dudek |
GK |
23 |
Jimmy Walker |
|
|
DF |
2 |
Jan Kromkamp |
DF |
7 |
Christian Dailly |
|
|
DF |
21 |
Djimi Traore |
DF |
19 |
James Collins |
|
|
MF |
16 |
Dietmar Hamann |
FW |
8 |
Teddy Sheringham |
|
|
FW |
19 |
Fernando Morientes |
FW |
25 |
Bobby Zamora |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Managers: |
||||||
|
Rafael Benitez |
Alan Pardew |
|||||
Match Summary
Playing at Wales' National Stadium in Cardiff - The Millenium Stadium - for the last time of six years in a row due to the rebuilding of Wembley, the 2006 FA Cup Final is now widely regarded as 'The Gerrard Final', and for good reason. This thrilling match was decided on penalties for only the second time in the competition's history but it was the 90 +1 minutes prior to extra-time that the fans of both Liverpool and West Ham will remember it for. The East London club were 2 – 0 up and cruising before Gerrard's fantastic long-range pass found Cisse to pull a goal back before half-time. Liverpool equalised in the 54th minute when Gerrard ran onto a headed knock down to thrash the ball into the top corner of West Ham's net on the half-volley. The match then turned back into The Hammers' favour when Konchesky's cross from the left was over-hit and luckily looped over Reina to give West Ham the lead at 3 – 2. It stayed that scoreline all the way up to the 90th minute when inspirational captain Gerrard scored one of the most sensational injury-time goals of all time with a 35-yard thunderbolt to equalise and break the hearts of West Ham fans everywhere. Liverpool's Pepe Reina would go on to save three penalties in the shootout but it was Gerrard who was the uneqivocal man-of-the-match in this enthralling final. The match was featured in the youtube.com as a top 10 high scoring FA Cup matches of the modern day.
1. Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur (1987, FA CUP Final)
Venue: Wembley, London (Attendance: 96,000 approx.)
Match Referee: Neil Midgley (Manchester)
|
Coventry City |
3 – 2 (a.e.t) |
Tottenham Hotspur |
|
Bennett 8’ |
Mabbutt 40’ |
|
|
Houchen 62’ |
||
|
Mabbutt 95’ (o.g.) |
|
Line-ups: |
|||||
|
Coventry City |
Tottenham Hotspur |
||||
|
GK |
1 |
Steve Ogrizovic |
GK |
1 |
Ray Clemence |
|
RB |
2 |
David Phillips |
RB |
2 |
Chris Hughton |
|
LB |
3 |
Greg Downs |
LB |
3 |
Mitchell Thomas |
|
MF |
4 |
Lloyd McGrath |
MF |
4 |
Steve Hodge |
|
CB |
5 |
Brian Kilcline (c) |
CB |
5 |
Richard Gough (c) |
|
CB |
6 |
Trevor Peake |
CB |
6 |
Gary Mabbutt |
|
MF |
7 |
Dave Bennett |
CF |
7 |
Clive Allen |
|
MF |
8 |
Micky Gynn |
MF |
8 |
Paul Allen |
|
CF |
9 |
Cyrille Regis |
MF |
9 |
Chris Waddle |
|
CF |
10 |
Keith Houchen |
MF |
10 |
Glenn Hoddle |
|
MF |
11 |
Nick Pickering |
MF |
11 |
Ossie Ardiles |
|
Subs: |
|||||
|
MF |
12 |
Steve Sedgley |
FW |
12 |
Nico Claesen |
|
DF |
14 |
Graham Rodger |
DF |
14 |
Gary Stevens |
|
Managers: |
|||||
|
John Sillett/George Curtis |
David Pleat |
||||
Match Summary
Stating that it was “the finest Cup Final I’ve had the pleasure of commentating on”, BBC commentator John Motson appeared to speaking on behalf of the watching masses who witnessed 1987’s five-goal thriller between the underdogs Coventry City and hot favourites Spurs. From the first minute to the last, the match was played at a high tempo with plenty of exciting wing play and goalscoring opportunities as Tottenham twice took the lead with their skilful team of international footballers. Coventry City could not boast about having a line-up with as much talent but the spirited performance that they provided in their first ever domestic Cup Final brought them back to level terms twice. The second equaliser was of particular note as Keith Houchen scored it with a sensational diving header just after the hour mark and it gave 'The Sky Blues' the momentum needed to take the game to extra-time. When a Gary Mabbutt own-goal handed Coventry the lead just minutes into the extra-time period, City kept their stamina to stay in front all the way to the final whistle whilst Waddle, Hoddle, Ardiles and the rest of the Spurs superstars lost their impetus. Coventry captain Brian Kilcline lifted the cup to loud cheers from his club's fans as one of the great shocks in FA Cup history happened on a memorable sunny day in North-West London.