Known the world over as possibly the greatest domestic knock-out tournament, the FA Cup has a history of shocks, blunders and giant-killings. But what would a football competition be without the ball hitting the back of the net? And when it comes to the final, some of those goals are particularly special. And what would be football like without betting on it? Online bookmakers offer plenty of promotions for big games, all you can find on Bonuscorner.com.
Norman Whiteside
In the mid-80s Everton were riding high and were clear favourites when they came up against Manchester United in the 1985 cup final. Down to 10 men and with the clock ticking down, it seemed that the predictions were right and that the cup would be headed to Merseyside; but in the dying moments, Northern Irish youngster Norman Whiteside took his chance with a curling, curving shot that evaded goalkeeper Neville Southall and secured victory for United.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVYWbDNEBT8
Michael Owen
A prolific striker at both club and national level, Michael Owen secured his reputation as a real talent when Liverpool took on Arsenal in 2001 – not under the arches of Wembley, but at the FA Cup’s temporary Welsh home. Arsenal were leading 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium before Owen took centre stage. With under 10 minutes left to play, Owen struck, bringing his Liverpool team level. But more was to come; ably assisted by Patrik Berger, Owen took on (and beat) both Lee Dixon and Tony Adams before scoring again and virtually engraving Liverpool’s name on the trophy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5HbItIq0Nw
Ricky Villa
Set in the context of one of the most competitive FA Cup finals ever staged, Ricky Villa’s 1981 winner for Tottenham cemented his position as a force to be reckoned with in the football league. With Tottenham and their opponents Manchester City level at 2-2, Villa systematically and singe-handedly took the City defence on and won. Scoring his second goal of the game, his strike made victory for the Londoners a certainty.
Roberto Di Matteo
As iconic as the moon landing, or JFK being shot or the death of Diana – everyone remembers where they were when Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo stunned both his own team and his Middlesbrough rivals by finding the back of the net within seven of the 1997 FA Cup final kicking off. Although the record has since been broken by Everton’s Louis Saha, Di Matteo’s achievement (which kick-started the momentum for Chelsea’s eventual 2-0 win) is one that lives long in FA Cup memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FedS8T9hBS8
Stuart Pearce
He was not known as a natural goal-scorer perhaps, but Stuart Pearce did have something of a habit of getting his name on the score-board when it counted the most. In 1991, Pearce’s Nottingham Forest were pitched against an in-form Tottenham Hotspur. After the latter’s Paul Gascoigne committed a nearly career-ending foul on Gary Charles, it was the unlikely Pearce who stepped up to take the subsequent free kick. And take it he did, catapulting his powerful shot past Erik Thorstvedt. Forest went on the clinch a 2-1 victory.
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard is a player synonymous with Liverpool, but in a career at the club peppered with memorable moments, his performance in 2006’s FA Cup final is surely one of the most significant. For many, Liverpool’s epic battle with West Ham to claim the cup is a highlight in the tournament’s history. A contest packed with twists and turns, it seemed certain the trophy was won with West Ham leading 3-2 as the game entered injury time. Visibly suffering from cramp, Gerrard played through the pain and thundered a shot from over 30 yards into the bottom of the net. Taking West Ham by surprise, Liverpool went on to win the match on penalties. And as Gerrard departs Liverpool for pastures new, it is memories like this that will be hard to beat.
