1979 FA Cup Final

The 1979 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 12 May 1979 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Arsenal and Manchester United. It is regarded as one of the greatest-ever finishes in an FA Cup final.[1][2] For over 85 minutes the game had been unremarkable, with Arsenal taking a 2–0 half time lead through goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton. In the 86th minute, however, Gordon McQueen scored following a set-piece, and two minutes later Sammy McIlroy dribbled past two Arsenal players to score a dramatic equaliser. With the game poised for extra time, United's celebrations proved short-lived, as Alan Sunderland scored a last-minute winner, making the final result Arsenal 3–2 Manchester United. This match is often referred to as the "Five-minute Final".

1979 FA Cup Final
Match programme cover
Event1978–79 FA Cup
Date12 May 1979
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeRon Challis (Kent)
Attendance99,219

The 1979 FA Cup was the only major trophy that Arsenal won during the seven-year management of Terry Neill, who was appointed in 1976 after Bertie Mee's retirement. He was dismissed in 1983.

It was also the only cup final that Manchester United reached under the management of Dave Sexton, who had been appointed as manager in 1977 and remained there until 1981 when he was sacked having failed to bring a major trophy to the club.

Match details

Arsenal3–2Manchester United
Talbot  12'
Stapleton  43'
Sunderland  89'
(Report) McQueen  86'
McIlroy  88'
Wembley, London
Attendance: 99,219
Referee: Ron Challis (Kent)
Arsenal
Manchester United
GK1 Pat Jennings
RB2 Pat Rice (c)
LB3 Sammy Nelson
CM4 Brian Talbot
CB5 David O'Leary
CB6 Willie Young
RM7 Liam Brady
CF8 Alan Sunderland
CF9 Frank Stapleton
CM10 David Price 83'
LM11 Graham Rix
Substitute:
DF12 Steve Walford 83'
Manager:
Terry Neill
GK1 Gary Bailey
RB2 Jimmy Nicholl
LB3 Arthur Albiston
CM4 Sammy McIlroy
CB5 Gordon McQueen
CB6 Martin Buchan (c)
RM7 Steve Coppell
CF8 Jimmy Greenhoff
CF9 Joe Jordan
CM10 Lou Macari
LM11 Mickey Thomas
Substitute:
DF12 Brian Greenhoff
Manager:
Dave Sexton

References

  1. "1979 FA Cup Final". BBC Manchester. 13 May 2005. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
  2. "What a finish!". TheFA.com. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
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