The FA Cup, fully known as the Football Association Challenge Cup, has existed since 1871. It was founded as the English domestic football league, open to all English football clubs down to the ninth level. It’s the oldest football league in the world and has seen a record 763 clubs compete for the championship title. The tournaments consist of twelve randomly drawn rounds with semi-finals and a final round.
All clubs in the English Premier League and the other three divisions of the English Football League are automatic qualifiers. The other clubs, up to level nine, can qualify if they’ve played in the FA Vase or Trophy competitions. Depending on the rank of the club, the minimum number of games they need to win to proceed in the competition ranges from six to fourteen. Also, entry depends on the club’s rank, with the first entrants being clubs in levels 5 to 10 of the National League System. The last entrants are the twenty-four championship clubs and the twenty Premier League clubs.
Clubs that win the FA Cup proceed to the UEFA Europa League and a shot at the FA Community Shield. The club with the most FA Cup wins is Arsenal, with fourteen championship titles, winning seven of those under Arsene Wenger. However, the current champion of this league is Manchester United, beating Manchester United 2 -1 in the final round. They currently have seven FA Cup wins and might make it eighth in the ongoing FA Cup season. You can check out here for your football predictions on the winner of this season’s FA Cup League. The site offers you useful football betting tips on virtually all football tournaments and matches worldwide.
What Are The Biggest Underdog Wins In FA Cup History?
With over a century and a half of FA Cup history, the league has witnessed some of the most incredible wins. This tournament especially gives room to the underrated teams to shine, and some have taken it all the way to win the cup unexpectedly. In the following headings, we see some of the most shocking and incredible wins by underdogs in the league.
Southampton’s Win Against Manchester United In 1976
Southampton’s only FA Cup win ever was done in style against a formidable Manchester United in 1976. Manchester United has a strong run in the premier league season leading to the FA Cup, making them the obvious favourite. On the other hand, Southampton were the underdogs that had finished sixth in the second-division league. However, the final round saw Southampton’s Saints defy all odds, maintaining a strong defence towards extra time.
Within minutes, Southampton changed the dynamics of the game, scoring a goal against the Red Devils. Bobby Stokes was the one to score this winning goal, putting Southampton on the list of FA Cup champions for the first and only time since then.
West Ham United’s Win Against Arsenal In 1980
Before this final match against Arsenal, West Ham had already won the FA Cup twice. However, they were still the underdogs against the highly-revered Gunners. In fact, West Ham was in the second division, playing against Arsenal, who were at the top of the league in the first division. Playing on the neutral Wembley ground, both teams went at each other for about 13 minutes before West Ham scored their first and winning goal.
For the rest of the match, West Ham played possessive-style football, leaving Arsenal frustrated and unable to create chances for a goal. This was the last FA Cup title win recorded by West Ham United.
Wimbledon’s Win Against Liverpool In 1988
Through the 1980s, Liverpool ruled the football leagues in England. They were an unstoppable force in football, but Wimbledon seemed to have them staunched in the 1988 FA Cup final. Liverpool had won the English football league that year, entering the FA competition as the favourite team to win. To many fans of the English Football League, Liverpool was ready to have their second domestic championship.
However, the events that unfolded at the Wembley stadium remain one for the books. Wimbledon matched Liverpool in every area, and it paid off when Lawrie Sanchez scored a header from a freekick by Dennis Wise. A frantic Liverpool gave the match all it had, seeing a goal from Peter Beardsley disallowed. They also had a penalty saved by the Wimbledon’s goalkeeper, Dave Beasant. The saved penalty became the first penalty ever saved in an FA Cup final. Wimbledon won the match with that one goal, earning them their first-ever FA CUP title win.
Wigan’s Win Against Manchester City In 2013
Probably the biggest underdog win in FA Cup history, Wigan were in relegation in the EPL when they won this cup! It was a spectacular 1 – 0 win against Manchester City, a team that had won the EPL title the season before. Having failed to defend the title in 2013, their hope of claiming a championship title was this FA Cup. However, they were in for a surprise as Wigan attacked with everything they had and scored in the 90th minute. Wigan became the first English football team to win an FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.
Leicester City Win Against Chelsea In 2021
Leicester City seemed no match for Tuchel’s blues in this FA Cup final but gave a good performance that earned them their first FA Cup trophy. Chelsea seemed to have the game in control but failed to deliver goals with chances created. However, Leicester saw its chance at goal and a 30-yard shot was delivered by Youri Tielemans to earn them the trophy.
Conclusion
These remain some of the biggest wins recorded by underdogs in the oldest football league in the world. Surely, there are many more decades to play, and we’re expectant of some more historical wins by underrated English football teams. Be sure to follow us for football betting tips for the ongoing and future FA Cup matches!
