• Vote for the greatest FA Cup Semi-Finals

FA Cup Poll - Greatest FA Cup Semi-Finals

John Brewin

To coincide with ESPN's coverage of the 2012-13 FA Cup in the UK and Ireland, we are asking you to vote on our shortlist of greatest ever FA Cup moments. We'll announce the results of the poll as part of our all-day, live build-up to the 2013 FA Cup final.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED - Thanks for all your votes, tune in to ESPN TV on FA Cup final day for the results.

1990 - Crystal Palace v Liverpool

Palace, who had been thrashed 9-0 by Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool in an earlier league fixture, knocked out the holders and denied them a Double.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time after an Ian Rush opener, it looked like Palace - who were already without the injured Ian Wright - would capitulate, but Steve Coppell's men came out after the break with fresh resolve and Mark Bright equalised with a powerful shot before Gary O'Reilly sent them into a 2-1 lead after a goalmouth scramble. Steve McMahon soon made it 2-2 from 20 yards and, just one minute later, John Barnes calmly netted the penalty to put Liverpool ahead.

Andy Gray popped up to nod home an equaliser with seconds left, sending the tie into extra-time and the Palace fans into raptures. A corner arrived in the box and Alan Pardew rose above Ronnie Whelan to head home the winner with ten minutes to go. All hell broke loose after the final whistle.

1991 - Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

In 1991 the North London derby headed west, in the first FA Cup semi-final to be staged at Wembley, and a single kick sealed Paul Gascoigne's status as a Spurs legend.

Gazza's fifth minute free-kick is arguably one the greatest FA Cup goals, but he nearly didn't play at all after undergoing abdominal surgery a month earlier. After winning his race to be fit, Gazza immediately made his mark, sending a long-range free-kick rocketing past David Seaman.

Spurs went on to win the game, largely thanks to two goals from another Spurs favourite, Gary Lineker, and they went on to beat Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in the final to claim their first silverware in seven years. Gazza's post-match analysis, delivered to ESPN's Ray Stubbs, then of the BBC:"Wasn't bad, was it?"

1993 - Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United

The Steel City enjoyed a day out in the Big Smoke but it was the Owls who blunted the Blades. Dave "Bertie" Bassett's United, playing at Wembley for the first time since 1936 after fan demand forced the fixture to be moved from Elland Road, were undone by some vintage Chris Waddle genius.

Waddle, back from his successful spell at Marseille but out of favour with the England management at the time, offered a reminder of his talents with a 20-yard free kick to open the scoring, only for veteran Alan Cork - sporting a beard he had refused to shave until Blades exited the competition to equalise. Extra time ensued, and Mark Bright's header won it for the Owls in the 107th minute.

1997 - Middlesbrough v Chesterfield

Having already beaten Bolton, Nottingham Forest and Wrexham, Division Two Chesterfield went 2-0 up against Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough through Andy Morris and a Sean Dyche penalty after Vladimir Kinder was sent off for a second yellow card. However, the lead lasted just four minutes as Fabrizio Ravanelli and Craig Hignett hit back.

But controversy occurred with Chesterfield leading 2-1, Jonathan Howard's shot clearly crossed the line after crashing off the underside of the bar. Nothing was given. As extra-time arrived, Gianluca Festa put Boro ahead for the first time, but Jamie Hewitt - the only Chesterfield- born player in the underdogs' line-up - saved the game with 65 seconds left to force a replay.

1999 - Manchester United v Arsenal

A game that will always be recalled for the bare-chested celebration of Ryan Giggs, the Premier League's top two teams played out a thrilling encounter at Villa Park that kept United on course for a treble they would eventually achieve. David Beckham's unstoppable swerve flew past David Seaman early on, before the Gunners hauled themselves back into the game after half-time through Dennis Bergkamp's deflected shot.

Roy Keane was then sent off for a foul on Marc Overmars, but Bergkamp missed a last-minute penalty to send the game into extra-time. Substitute Ryan Giggs' mesmerising run took him past four defenders before he smashed the ball past Seaman at the near post to win the last ever semi-final replay.

ESPN has exclusively live televised coverage of the FA Cup semi-final between Millwall and Wigan, this Saturday the 13th of April. ESPN Classic will offer up a range of classic FA Cup programming before and during the Semi-Final this weekend featuring matches and special documentaries on the world's oldest domestic cup competition.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close