On This Day – 18th April
Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in the League Cup Final on this day in 1993 to lift their fourth trophy in seven years under George Graham.
The League Cup was known as the Coca Cola Cup at the time after the soft drinks manufacturer began sponsoring the competition at the start of the season. They would continue to sponsor the tournament until 1998 when Worthington’s took their place.
Sheffield Wednesday had won the trophy two years prior, with a goal from John Sheridan enough to beat Manchester United. Arsenal had last won it in 1987, beat Liverpool 2-1.
Wembley was starting to become a second home for both clubs as it was the second time in two weeks that both clubs had played there. Both had won their respective semi finals at Wembley to secure a place in the FA Cup Final in May.
It was Wednesday who took the lead after only eight minutes with a well-worked free kick. John Sheridan looked as if he was going to cross the ball in but fooled the Arsenal defence and passed to Phil King who had made an overlapping run down the left of the penalty area.
King drilled the ball low across goal but it was nudged away from danger. John Harkes ran in and smashed the ball hard and low from the edge of the penalty area, past David Seaman and into the back of the net.
Paul Merson levelled the score twelve minutes later with a fantastic shot. Paul Davis’s free-kick was headed away and Merson reacted quickest to hit a shot past Chris Woods from 25 yards.
Northern Ireland international Steve Morrow scored the winner for Arsenal in the 68th minute, racing in to hit a loose ball after Carlton Palmer failed to clear the danger. It proved to be the winning goal.
Morrow’s joy was short-lived though as his captain Tony Adams accidentally dropped him during post-match celebrations. More about that here.
Both sides returned to Wembley a month later for the FA Cup Final. The match ended 1-1 and so a fourth Wembley outing was required. Arsenal won the replay 2-1 thanks to a header from Andy Linighan in the last minute of Extra Time.
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