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FA Cup final facts and figures
Posted: Tuesday May 08, 2001 1:37 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Facts and figures relating to the FA Cup final being played between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 12:
Arsenal and Liverpool are meeting in the Cup final for the third time following their previous encounters in 1950 and 1971, both of which Arsenal won in a change strip of yellow shirts.
In 1950 Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 with Reg Lewis scoring both their goals, one in each half. In 1971 Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 after extra time not only to win the Cup, but also complete only the second FA Cup and League Double of the 20th century. Steve Heighway scored to put Liverpool ahead in the first minute of extra time but goals from Eddie Kelly and Charlie George -- who celebrated by laying down on his back on the Wembley turf -- gave Arsenal a famous victory.
Ray Kennedy, in the Arsenal team that beat Liverpool in 1971, was in the Liverpool side that lost the 1977 Cup final to Manchester United. He was also in Arsenal's team that lost the 1972 final to Leeds.
The two clubs have meet 13 times in the competition with Arsenal winning five, Liverpool winning four and with four matches drawn. Liverpool have not beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup since a 1-0 fifth round win at Highbury in 1964. They had also beaten Arsenal at Highbury in the fifth round the previous season.
They last met in the Cup in 1980 when it needed four matches to decide their semifinal. After a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough and two 1-1 draws at Villa Park, a goal from Brian Talbot finally gave Arsenal a 1-0 win in the third replay at Highfield Road, Coventry. Nine days later Arsenal lost 1-0 to second division West Ham in the final.
If Arsenal win the Cup they will pull level with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur with eight FA Cup victories following their previous wins in 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998. Only Manchester United, with 10 wins, have been more successful. Liverpool are seeking to win the Cup for the sixth time following successes in 1965, 1974, 1986, 1989 and 1992.
Arsenal claim they are going to Cardiff to 'reclaim' the FA Cup. Although Scottish and Northern Irish clubs entered the Cup in its early years and Welsh clubs still do, Cardiff are the only club from outside England to have won it, beating Arsenal 1-0 in the 1927 final. Cardiff also reached the final in 1925, losing 1-0 to Sheffield United.
The 1927 final started a tradition at Arsenal which has lasted to this day. Cardiff's 74th minute winner, scored by Scot Hugh Ferguson, crossed the line after slipping out of the grasp of Arsenal's Welsh goalie Dan Lewis. Arsenal coach Tom Whittaker believed Lewis failed to hold the ball because of the sheen of his new jersey -- and from that day every new goalkeeper's jersey is softened up in the laundry at Highbury before being worn in a match.
Liverpool striker Ian Rush holds the all-time scoring record in the FA Cup final with 5 goals: 1986 (2 goals), 1989 (2) and 1992 (1). Former Arsenal hero Ian Wright is one of three men to score four Cup final goals -- two with Crystal Palace in 1990, and one in the 1993 final for Arsenal and another in the replay against Sheffield Wednesday.
Arsenal's Andy Linighan scored the "latest" ever Cup final goal when he headed the winner -- despite a broken nose -- in the last minute of extra time in the replayed 1993 final against Sheffield Wednesday. That put Arsenal 2-1 up and the referee blew for time 44 seconds later.
Liverpool are attempting to become only the second side to win the FA Cup and the League Cup in the same season following their penalty shootout victory over Birmingham City in Cardiff on February 25. The only other team to win both domestic cups in the same season are Arsenal who beat Sheffield Wednesday in both the League Cup and FA Cups in 1993.
This season's final is the first in the 129-year history of the competition in which both teams have been managed by foreigners. Frenchman Arsene Wenger is bidding to win the Cup for the second time with Arsenal while his compatriot Gerard Houllier is hoping for Liverpool's first Cup success since 1992.
Liverpool are also bidding to become the first English club to win three Cup finals in the same season. They have already won the League Cup and meet Alaves of Spain in the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund on May 16. The FA Cup final will be their 24th cup match of the season.
Arsenal will be appearing in their 14th FA Cup final, Liverpool their 12th. Liverpool were the first winners of the 'new' FA Cup in 1992 after beating Sunderland 2-0 at Wembley. The current trophy, the fourth, is an exact replica made from the same mould of the trophy presented between 1911 and 1991.
The Cup final will be the first not played at Wembley since 1922 when Huddersfield beat Preston North End 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool and Arsenal are among only six clubs to have won the English FA Cup and League double, with Arsenal achieving that feat twice, in 1971 and 1998 and Liverpool once in 1986. The other clubs are: Preston North End (1889), Aston Villa (1897), Tottenham Hotspur (1961) and Manchester United (1994, 1996 and 1999). Liverpool have won the English championship a record 18 times, Arsenal have been champions 11 times.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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