This week saw this season’s two FA Cup semi-finals play out, with Manchester City and Manchester United both progressing into the final with narrow victories.
This sees the second Manchester derby in the final in as many years, with the blue side of Manchester currently holding the bragging rights thanks to Ilkay Gundogan’s two goals in last season’s final.
With this final now being confirmed, we’re going to take a look back at the best FA Cup finals to have taken place in the ‘new’ Wembley:
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2013/14 – Arsenal’s amazing comeback
In the buildup to the 2014 final the widely accepted outcome was that Arsenal would breeze past a much inferior Hull City side.
This was far from the reality of the game though as Hull took a 2-0 lead within eight minutes as they gave Arsenal fans the fright of their life.
Santi Cazorla was able to half the deficit just 10 minutes later with a superb free-kick, but Hull were able to stop any further goals for almost another hour as they desperately looked to defend their lead. The equaliser eventually came from Laurent Koscielny in the 71st minute, with the game proceeding into extra-time.
Aaron Ramsey then proved himself the hero as he fired in from Olivier Giroud’s backheeled pass in the 109th minute, completing Arsenal’s comeback and securing the victory in one of the most entertaining FA Cup finals to date.
2012/13 – David vs Goliath
Just a year prior to Hull’s attempted underdog victory, Wigan Athletic succeeded in their David vs Goliath final when they faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
While everyone expected to see Man City dominate the game and batter the Premier League relegation-battling Wigan side, the match proved to be a tight affair.
The possession was shared 50-50, while City only managed one more shot than their opponents. Admittedly, City’s chances were the better throughout the game, but neither side had scored with the clock ticking past the 90th minute.
That was until Ben Watson stepped up.
As the Wigan corner was about to be whipped in, Watson made his move towards the front post with the ball coming perfectly to his new position. The midfielder powered his header back towards the far post, beating Joe Hart for power and flying into the back of the net.
The final whistle sounded not long after, completing Wigan’s unbelievable win against a far superior squad. A victory that became even more impressive following their relegation from the top flight just a week later, becoming the only side to win the Cup and be relegated in the same season.
2011/12 – The disallowed goal
The 2012 FA Cup final is one of the most dramatic in recent years, with Chelsea dominating the game for the better part of an hour before Liverpool looked to make their comeback.
Chelsea kicked the game off with a goal in the 11th minute thanks to Ramires’ effort, one that Pepe Reina would have been disappointed not to save. Chelsea’s lead was extended in the 52nd minute through the star of the show Dider Drogba, scoring yet again on the biggest stage for his side.
However, just 11 minutes later substitute Andy Carroll, who had only been on the pitch for eight minutes, pulled one back for Liverpool. The ball made its way to the striker inside the box from a deflection, but Carroll still had plenty of work to do.
Carroll twisted and turned on the spot, creating a yard of space to take his shot, which cannoned past Petr Cech and flew into the roof of the net. Carroll thought he had equalised in the 81st minute as he powered a header towards the Chelsea goal, but Cech palmed his shot onto the crossbar and away.
Carroll had already wheeled away in celebration when referee Phil Dowd decided not to award the goal, with replays to this day remaining ambiguous as to whether the ball did cross the line or not.
Liverpool were not able to get back into the game following this chance, leaving Chelsea as victors as they picked up their first trophy of the season, following it up a fortnight later with a Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
