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(Not) up for the cup
Steven LynchMarch 12, 2015
I remember Manchester United withdrawing from the FA Cup one year to play elsewhere. When was this? asked Chris Flowers
Manchester United's withdrawal from the FA Cup - a controversial move at the time, especially as they were the holders - was in the 1999-2000 season. They withdrew, with the permission of the FA, to take part in the World Club Cup competition in South America: some saw it as poetic justice when they failed to qualify from their preliminary group. Corinthians won the final, beating their fellow Brazilians Vasco da Gama on penalties after a 0-0 draw in Rio's Maracana Stadium.
Manchester United's withdrawal created a space in the third-round draw, which was taken up by "lucky losers" Darlington, who were drawn out at random from the clubs defeated in the second round.
Darlington had lost 3-1 to Gillingham, but didn't make the most of their reprieve, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa - who went on to reach the final for the first time in 43 years, but lost 1-0 to Chelsea.
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