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1979 FA Cup final

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1979 FA Cup final
Match programme cover
Event1978–79 FA Cup
Date12 May 1979
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeRon Challis (Kent)
Attendance99,219
1978
1980

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".

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

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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
GK 1 Northern Ireland Pat Jennings
RB 2 Northern Ireland Pat Rice (c)
LB 3 Northern Ireland Sammy Nelson
CM 4 England Brian Talbot
CB 5 Republic of Ireland David O'Leary
CB 6 Scotland Willie Young
RM 7 Republic of Ireland Liam Brady
CF 8 England Alan Sunderland
CF 9 Republic of Ireland Frank Stapleton
CM 10 England David Price downward-facing red arrow 83'
LM 11 England Graham Rix
Substitute:
DF 12 England Steve Walford upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Northern Ireland Terry Neill
GK 1 England Gary Bailey
RB 2 Northern Ireland Jimmy Nicholl
LB 3 Scotland Arthur Albiston
CM 4 Northern Ireland Sammy McIlroy
CB 5 Scotland Gordon McQueen
CB 6 Scotland Martin Buchan (c)
RM 7 England Steve Coppell
CF 8 England Jimmy Greenhoff
CF 9 Scotland Joe Jordan
CM 10 Scotland Lou Macari
LM 11 Wales Mickey Thomas
Substitute:
DF 12 England Brian Greenhoff
Manager:
England Dave Sexton

References

[edit]
  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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