On This Day – 12th May
On this day 41 years ago, Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 to win the 1979 FA Cup.
The Final became known as ‘The Five Minute Final’ after the dramatic final few minutes of the game. United scored twice in the last five minutes to level the game before Alan Sunderland fired in from close-range to win the Cup for Arsenal.
Arsenal were two up at the break, courtesy of goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton in the 12th and 43rd minute respectively. Very little else happened in the game until Gordon McQueen scored from a United corner on 86 minutes.
Two minutes later, Sammy McIllroy squeezed the ball past his Northern Ireland team mate Pat Jennings in the Arsenal goal to level the game.
Straight from the kick-off, Liam Brady took the ball deep into Manchester United’s half before flicking the ball out wide to Graham Rix.
Arsenal’s left winger whipped in a cross to the far post over Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey and Alan Sunderland was there to poke the ball into the back of the net.
The Five Minute Final still remains one of the most dramatic ends to an FA Cup Final of all-time.
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