FA Cup Grand Finals – Tottenham vs Manchester City

The 100th FA (Football Association) Cup Final was played at Wembley Stadium between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on 9 May 1981 and a replay was played on 14 May. It was the replay that will always be remembered as one of the greatest FA Cup finals and will certainly be remembered for one of the greatest goals in the Cup final.

Both teams had a lackluster league season with Tottenham finishing in 10th position and Manchester City 12th in the First Division, the teams only being separated by four points. In the league matches of the 1980-81 league seasons, Manchester City earned a 3-1 home win over Tottenham, while Tottenham won with a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture.

In theory, the teams would be evenly matched, and this proved to be the case, as the first game ended in a 1-1 draw. The game was significant for Manchester City player Tommy Hutchison, who had the unenviable honor of scoring goals for both teams.

Hutchinson had scored a great header for his own team, Manchester City, to give them a 1–0 lead in the 13th minute of the game, but unfortunately deflected a shot from Tottenham’s Glen Hoddle into the far corner of his own goal, eleven minutes before the end of the game, which Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan would probably have easily saved.

The first game went to extra time, but finished 1-1 to set up a replay at Wembley Stadium five days later.

The replay was a much better game, with both teams attacking from the start, and Tottenham scoring after eight minutes, when Joe Corrigan saved a shot but Ricardo Villa scored an easy goal off the rebound. Three minutes later Steve from Manchester City mackenzie he hit a fantastic volley to level the score 1-1, and the score remained level at half time. Glenn Hoddle nearly scored again for Tottenham when his free kick hit the post, and Joe Corrigan made some good saves as City kept the game.

Four minutes into the second half, Manchester City were awarded a penalty and Kevin reeves He calmly converted the penalty kick to give City a 2-1 lead. Tottenham advanced in search of an equalizer and were justly rewarded in the 70th minute when Garth thieves he scored Tottenham’s second goal to level the score at 2–2.

Six minutes later, Ricardo Villa scored Tottenham’s winning goal and arguably one of the greatest goals ever in an FA Cup final. Villa picked up the ball and slipped between three Manchester City defenders in the penalty area as if they weren’t there and then slotted the ball into the goal and past the departing goalkeeper. There were six defenders in the penalty area and none could stop Villa from scoring the winner. Several City players sat dejectedly on the pitch after the goal, knowing they had been beaten by an outstanding display of football.

The 3-2 win was the sixth time Tottenham had won the FA Cup, and they will always be remembered for Ricardo Villa’s outstanding goal.