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Five of the best FA Cup finals including Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United

Five of the best FA Cup finals including Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United
© Reuters
Ian Porterfield scored the only goal of the game.

Sunderland defied the odds to beat Leeds in the FA Cup final on May 5, 1973.

Ian Porterfield scored the only goal of the game while Sunderland goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery made a string of spectacular saves as the Second Division Black Cats toppled Don Revie's high-flying Leeds.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five classic cup finals since then:

1979 – Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2

Brian Talbot's strike inside the first quarter of an hour and Frank Stapleton's header on the stroke of half-time put the Gunners in the driving seat. As the match meandered into the closing stages, there was little indication that this showpiece would be fondly remembered in the years to come but three goals in the last five minutes changed all that. Gordon McQueen bundled home before Sammy McIlroy's superb solo effort drew United level in the blink of an eye only for Alan Sunderland to slide in the winner for Arsenal from the superb Liam Brady's cross.

1987 – Coventry 3 Tottenham 2

Unfancied Coventry produced one of the great FA Cup final upsets. Things seemed to be running to form when Clive Allen headed Spurs ahead after just two minutes but Dave Bennett equalised almost immediately. Gary Mabbutt got the final touch as Spurs went back ahead before the break but Bennett crossed for Keith Houchen to make it 2-2 with his famous diving header. The Sky Blues clinched it in extra time when Mabbutt diverted a Lloyd McGrath cross into his own goal.

1989 – Liverpool 3 Everton 2

In 1986, the Reds beat their Merseyside rivals in the FA Cup final with Ian Rush scoring twice. History repeated itself three years later but Everton proved sterner opposition at Wembley. Against the backdrop of the Hillsborough disaster only five weeks earlier, John Aldridge's fourth-minute goal seemed a decisive moment but it proved a mere footnote after Stuart McCall levelled with the last kick of the game. Into extra-time and McCall once again equalised after Rush's strike but there would be no third comeback after Rush headed home in the 104th minute.

2006 – Liverpool 3 West Ham 3 (Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties)

The FA Cup waved goodbye to the Millennium Stadium, which had played host to the final for six years, with a breathtaking match which saw West Ham come within seconds of landing silverware. The Hammers were two up thanks to Jamie Carragher's own goal and Dean Ashton and, although Djibril Cisse and Steven Gerrard struck either side of the interval, Paul Konchesky's effort looked like being the winner. However, into added-on time, Gerrard drove home from 30 yards and in the penalty shootout Pepe Reina saved Bobby Zamora, Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand's spot-kicks.

2014 – Arsenal 3 Hull 2

Arsenal came from 2-0 down to win a dramatic FA Cup final in extra-time with a goal from Aaron Ramsey to end their nine-year wait for a trophy. Hull had earlier stunned the Gunners at a sun-baked Wembley as they went 2-0 up inside eight minutes through James Chester and captain Curtis Davies but Arsenal reduced the deficit through a superb 30-yard free-kick from Santi Cazorla. Laurent Koscielny levelled in the 71st minute before Ramsey drilled in a loose ball from the edge of the penalty box.

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Alex Ferguson pictured on his final game in charge of Manchester United on May 19, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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