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Best FA Cup Final Goals



The best FA Cup Final goals, selected by our panel.

David Jack, 1923
Bolton Wanderers 2 - 0 West Ham United

Not so much a spectacular goal as a significant one - the first scored in a Wembley final.

Over 200,000 spectators crammed into the stadium which had been designed to hold 127,000, kickoff was delayed by 45 minutes, and but for Billie the horse and PC George Scorey, we might not have had a final at all.


Stan Mortensen, 1953
Blackpool 4 - 3 Bolton Wanderers

A game has gone down in history as the "Matthews Final", and while there is no doubt that the brilliance of Stanley Matthews turned the match for Blackpool, it was his team-mate Stan Mortensen who scored the only hat-trick in the history of the Cup final.

His third goal was a well struck free-kick in the 89th minute, and a minute later Bill Perry scored the winner.


Peter Osgood, 1970 Replay
Chelsea 2 - 1 Leeds United a.e.t. - first match finished 2-2

Leeds had the better of the first game and took the lead again in the replay through Jones.

Osgood's equalizer was a spectacular diving header to deflect the ball past Harvey in the Leeds goal.

The goal meant that Osgood had scored in every round of the cup - the last player to achieve that feat.


Charlie George, 1971
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal aet

Arsenal had already beaten Leeds to the league title and were looking to complete their first ever double.

With the first 90 minutes goalless the match went to extra time where Steve Heighway gave Liverpool the lead before Eddie Kelly leveled for Arsenal.

Then with nine minutes remaining, John Radford picked up the ball on the left and played a pass to George, who took a touch and then let fly with a 25-yard shot past Ray Clemence.


Ian Porterfield, 1973
Sunderland 1 - 0 Leeds United

Jim Montgomery's spectacular double save from Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer is the enduring memory of this final, but it was Porterfield's 31st minute strike which won it for Sunderland, producing arguably the biggest Cup-final shock in history.


Bobby Stokes, 1976
Southampton 1 - 0 Manchester United

Another spectacular upset. Relative unknown, Bobby Stokes scored one of the best FA Cup final goals to give Southampton the win over United, dribbling past Martin Buchan before racing through to score with seven minutes remaining.


Ricky Villa, 1981 Replay
Tottenham Hospur 3 - 2 Manchester City - first match finished 1-1

Having been substituted in a poor first match, Villa got a brace in the replay to win it for Spurs.

The second is considered by many as the best FA Cup Final goal ever. Villa picked up the ball on the edge of the box, jinked past Caton, Ranson and then Caton for again before slipping the ball past City keeper, Corrigan.


Keith Houchen, 1987
Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur aet

Spurs came into the match having never lost a final, and at 2-1 up they looked to be heading for their third Cup win of the decade.

But on 63 Kith Houchen played the ball out wide to Dave Bennett and continued his run. Bennett curled in a cross which Houchen met with a superb diving header.

The match headed for extra-time where a Gary Mabbutt own goal handed Coventry the only major trophy in their history.


Roberto Di Matteo, 1997
Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough had endured a nightmare season, having been relegated and losing the League Cup final to Leicester. It got no better in the FA Cup final.

With just 42 seconds on the clock, Di Matteo received the ball from Dennis and strode, unchallenged into the Boro half before unleashing a thunderous strike that crashed in off the bar.

Eddie Newton added a second as Chelsea cruised to victory.


Steven Gerrard, 2006, (Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United aet, Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties)

In one of the best finals ever, West Ham looked to have won it as the game entered injury time with the Hammers leading 3-2.

Enter Steven Gerrard with a spectacular 35-yard strike into the bottom corner to send the game into extra-time.

With no further score the match went to penalties with the Reds winning 3-1.


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