The first ever meeting between rivals Manchester United and Manchester City was a qualifying-round FA Cup tie back in 1891. For the record, Newton Heath (United) defeated Ardwick (City) 5-1 in front of 10,000 supporters at North Road.
While the two would go on to face each other on numerous occasions in Division One and Division Two, there would be four more FA Cup fixtures prior to the draw of round five of the competition in 1996, which paired United and City together for a fifth time.
Alan Ball's City made the short trip to Old Trafford 18 years ago today having not defeated United since that famous afternoon in 1989 when two goals from David Oldfield helped to inspire the home side to a 5-1 victory at Maine Road.
However, it appeared that their Manchester derby fortunes were altering in the 11th minute when Georgi Kinkladze threaded a pass through a static United defence. That released Uwe Rosler and the German showed good composure to loft the ball over an advancing Peter Schmeichel and into the net.
Referee Alan Wilkie then started to brandish his yellow card at regular intervals, but it was a decision that he made before the break that drew the most controversy. As United winger Ryan Giggs sent a corner into the City area, Wilkie spotted some jostling and blew for a penalty, much to the anger of the visitors. Nevertheless, Eric Cantona stepped up to draw the hosts level from 12 yards out.
It was a goal that put United in the ascendancy, but for large parts of the second half it appeared that Sir Alex Ferguson's side were not going to beat Eike Immel for a second time.
Lee Sharpe ensured that a replay wouldn't be required, though, when he struck 13 minutes from time. Giggs played in Phil Neville down to the left byline for the full-back to cross. Sharpe met the ball full on the volley and although his effort was straight at Immel, the shot had too much power for the City goalkeeper.
Sharpe's intervention proved to be a winning one as United held out to book their place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
MAN UNITED: Schmeichel; Irwin, Bruce, Pallister, P Neville; Sharpe, Keane, Butt, Giggs; Cole, Cantona
MAN CITY: Immel; Summerbee, Frontzeck, Curle, Symons; Lomas, Brown, Clough, Kinkladze; Rosler, Quinn
Liam Apicella
