10 classic semi-finals from the FA Cup

IT’S time for one of the best weekends of the English football season the FA Cup semi-finals have arrived. Here are ten famous semi-finals from Memory Lane but these are first games only. Replays are not on this list!

ARSENAL 2-2 STOKE (1971 Hillsborough)

STOKE had battled through seven tough matches to reaches the semi-finals for only the second time. Both sides were chasing history, as Arsenal were going for a League and Cup double, while Stoke had never won the cup. But the Potters looked on course for the final as two John Ritchie goals put them within touching distance of Wembley. Arsenal got one back and were hunting a second desperately as the clock ticked on and on. They won a corner deep into injury time from which they were awarded a controversial penalty, when defender John Mahoney was adjudged to have handled on the line. Peter Storey scored it to earn a replay, which Arsenal won. The Gunners would complete the double that season, but Stoke have still never won the FA Cup.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-2 LIVERPOOL (1985 Goodison Park)

WHENEVER these two great rivals meet, it is always a fierce contest, and it was certainly no different here. Liverpool had been the dominant force in England and in Europe over the previous decade, but United had their number in the FA Cup. The Red Devils had denied them the treble in the 1977 FA Cup final and sent them out at the semi-final stage two years later in a Goodison replay. They met again at Everton’s ground this time and produced another classic. Bryan Robson and Frank Stapleton twice had United ahead, but Ronnie Whelan and Paul Walsh levelled matters. However, roles were reversed in the Maine Road replay as United came from behind thanks to Robson again and Mark Hughes to knock out their old rivals.

COVENTRY 3-2 LEEDS (1987 Hillsborough)

THIS was a momentous occasion for both clubs. Coventry had never won anything in their history, while the once-mighty Leeds were languishing in the Second Division. The Yorkshire side went ahead, Coventry turned it around before a late equaliser from substitute Keith Edwards took the match into extra time, where Dave Bennett grabbed the winner for the West Midlands club. Coventry had reached their one and only cup final, where they would go on to beat Tottenham in another memorable game. As for Leeds, they are once again languishing in the second tier, and haven’t reached this stage of the cup in any subsequent year.

CRYSTAL PALACE 4-3 LIVERPOOL (1990 Villa Park)

THIS was the first of a Sunday double header of semi-finals, as both matches were broadcast live for the first time. If anything, there has never been a Super Sunday as good since. Liverpool were on course for another double and had already thrashed Palace 9-0 in the league at Anfield that season. At 1-0 up at half time, things were going smoothly. But Palace were transformed after the break and went in front, only for Liverpool to restore the supposed order as a John Barnes penalty put them 3-2 ahead. But the Eagles equalised again before a winning goal in extra time from current manager, Alan Pardew, took them to Wembley for their first ever FA Cup final.

OLDHAM 3-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (1990 Maine Road)

AFTER everyone took a deep breath following the first semi-final, viewers were treated to another thriller. Cup specialists Oldham didn’t fear anyone and had already beaten Everton and Aston Villa, as well as reached the League Cup final that season. It showed as they quickly took the lead. United skipper Bryan Robson levelled, before his side went in front. But Oldham had plenty of spirit as they levelled in the second half and again in extra time thanks to cult hero Roger Palmer after United had gone 3-2 ahead. It took a Mark Robins goal late in extra time in the replay to send United through to the final and it kept Sir Alex Ferguson on course for that vital first trophy, which was so crucial to everything that followed.

TOTENHAM 3-1 ARSENAL (1991 Wembley)

FOR the first time, Wembley was chosen as the venue for a semi-final to host this North London derby. Arsenal were going for the double, Tottenham’s focus was solely on the cup, and in Paul Gascoigne, they had a player who was on a personal mission to win it. The Italia ’90 star left his mark on this game and the old Wembley with a thunderous free-kick that set the tone for a thrilling afternoon. Gary Lineker added two more either side of one from Alan Smith as Spurs came out on top. They would then beat Nottingham Forest in the final, but it came at a cost as Gascoigne suffered a massive cruciate ligament injury, which cast a shadow over the match and from which his career would never quite reach the same heights.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (1993 Wembley)

WHEN the FA Cup semi-final draw in 1993 threw up two derbies, there was little choice but to play them both at Wembley. While Arsenal and Tottenham met on the Sunday, first up was the Steel City derby. Chris Waddle decided to copy his old Newcastle friend Paul Gascoigne and scored a stunning free-kick of his own to put Wednesday in front. Alan Cork equalised to take the match to extra time before the Owls eventually got the victory they merited through Mark Bright. Wednesday would return to Wembley for three more games that season but the semi-final win over the Blades was their only success, as they lost the League Cup final and then drew the FA Cup final, before losing the replay, all to Arsenal. United’s fans shouldn’t crow too much, though. They’ve lost on all four of their subsequent visits to Wembley.

OLDHAM 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (1994 Wembley)

THIS was not a classic game, but it had a classic moment. Manchester United had looked on course for a domestic treble at one stage in 1994. But they lost the League Cup final to Aston Villa, and their FA Cup hopes were starting to fade after Neil Pointon gave Oldham a shock lead in extra-time. The Latics were seconds away from reaching their first ever cup final when Mark Hughes produced a trademark volley to rescue United in stunning fashion. The effect on both teams was profound. United won the replay three days later at Maine Road 4-1 and went on to record the first double in the club’s history. Oldham did not win another match and were relegated on the final day, and will probably never play in the Premier League again.

CHESTERFIELD 3-3 MIDDLESBROUGH (1997 Old Trafford)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5hUC-5Vxzos

THIS was a semi-final that had everything. Six goals, two penalties, a red card, a huge moment of controversy and the lead swinging one way then the other. Chesterfield were bidding to become the first side from the third tier to reach the FA Cup final and that looked likely as Middlesbrough defender Vladimir Kinder was sent off and they went 2-0 up. But Boro fought back to force extra-time before going 3-2 up. That would have been that but for a dramatic late equaliser from Jamie Hewitt that earned a replay, admittedly one which the Teessiders would comfortably win 3-0. However, Chesterfield had been robbed. At 2-1 up, Jonathan Howard had a shot which hit the crossbar and bounced down over the line, but wasn’t given. With the help of goal-line technology, the Derbyshire club, not Middlesbrough, would have played Chelsea in the final.

MAN CITY 1-0 MAN UTD (2011 – Wembley)

THE new Wembley is yet to really produce a classic semi-final, but this match had a seismic significance as Manchester travelled down en masse to London. City had spent huge sums of money on new players, but had to end 35 years without winning anything. As the banner on the Stretford End at Old Trafford reminded the blue half of Manchester, time was ticking. United missed a couple of early chances, and City grew into the game. Then, seven minutes after half-time, Yaya Toure surged through United’s defence and planted his shot through Edwin van der Sar’s legs. That solitary goal not only won the game, but changed the complexion in Manchester as City demonstrated they were a new force in English football.