The 2023-24 English football season has provided plenty of action, drama and tension, and while the Premier League season has come to a close, there is still one more game that is sure to follow that same trend.
The FA Cup Final is set to take place over the weekend, pitting together Manchester City and Manchester United in the second Manchester derby final in as many years.
In the build-up to the final, we’re going to take a look back at the five best-ever FA Cup Finals:
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2005/06 – Liverpool’s turnaround
The 2005/06 final is memorable for many factors, from being the last FA Cup Final to be held at the Millennium Stadium to Steven Gerrard’s iconic volley.
West Ham initially went 2-0 up before being dragged back to 2-2, only for a Paul Konchesky goal to give them the lead once again. With the game nearing its end Gerrard lashed in a volley in the 91st minute and the game went to penalties, where Liverpool eventually won 3-1 with Pepe Reina saving three spot kicks.
2012/13 – Wigan’s underdog story
Manchester City had lost the Premier League title to Manchester United in 2012/13 but looked to at least salvage their pride with what many believed would be an easy FA Cup Final victory over underdogs Wigan Athletic.
Man City knocked on the door throughout the 90 minutes but were unable to score, meaning when Shaun Maloney’s corner was headed in by Ben Watson in the 91st minute Wigan had won the cup.
Unbelievably Wigan were also relegated from the Premier League that season, becoming the first team to ever win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.
2013/14 – Arsenal’s comeback victory
A year later and there was another potential David vs Goliath story in the FA Cup Final with Arsenal strong favourites to win their first trophy in nine years against Hull City.
Hull sprung into action early on though as they took a 2-0 lead within eight minutes, shocking the Gunners. Santi Cazorla’s stupendous freekick got one back in the 17th minute and Arsenal would have to wait until the 71st for Laurent Koscielny’s equaliser.
The game went on to extra time where Aaron Ramsey scored the winning goal in the 109th minute, finishing Arsenal’s comeback victory and claiming their 11th FA Cup in the process.
1987/88 – Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang
Yet another final where one side was expected to comfortably win the match happened in 1988 when reigning First Division champions Liverpool faced up against Wimbledon.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Wimbledon’s goalkeeper Dave Beasant produced an inspired performance that also saw him become the first keeper to save a penalty in the FA Cup Final and kept the Reds from getting on the scoresheet.
That left Lawrie Sanchez’s headed goal as the only one of the contest, winning Wimbledon’s first and only major trophy before they became MK Dons 16 years later.
1988/89 – Merseyside Final
An all-Merseyside final in the 1988/89 FA Cup was a fitting one following the Hillsborough disaster that took place just five weeks earlier.
The final was filled with emotions between the two sides and the scoring quickly followed kick-off thanks to a fourth-minute goal from John Aldridge for Liverpool. The Reds would lead all the way until the 89th minute when Stuart McCall’s equaliser forced extra time.
Ian Rush scored in the 95th minute to restore Liverpool’s lead before McCall netted his second to once again equalise for the Toffees. Rush would score again just two minutes later and this time there would be no reply from Everton, leaving Liverpool to take home the trophy.
Comment below with your favourite FA Cup Final
