1979 FA Cup final

Match programme cover

Event

1978–79 FA Cup

Arsenal	Manchester United

3	2

Date

12 May 1979

Venue

Wembley Stadium, London

Referee

Ron Challis (Kent)

Attendance

99,219

← 1978

1980 →

The 1979 FA Cup final was a football match played on 12 May 1979 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Arsenal and Manchester United. It is regarded as one of the greatest-ever finishes in an FA Cup final.^[1]^[2] For over 85 minutes the game had been unremarkable, with Arsenal taking a 2–0 half time lead through goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton. In the 86th minute, however, Gordon McQueen scored following a set-piece, and two minutes later Sammy McIlroy dribbled past two Arsenal players to score a dramatic equaliser. With the game poised for extra time, United's celebrations proved short-lived, as Alan Sunderland scored a last-minute winner, making the final result Arsenal 3–2 Manchester United. This match is often referred to as the "Five-minute Final".

The 1979 FA Cup was the only major trophy that Arsenal won during the seven-year management of Terry Neill, who was appointed in 1976 after Bertie Mee's retirement. He was dismissed in 1983.

It was also the only cup final that Manchester United reached under the management of Dave Sexton, who had been appointed as manager in 1977 and remained there until 1981 when he was sacked having failed to bring a major trophy to the club.

Match details

12 May 1979

Arsenal	3–2	Manchester United
Talbot 12' Stapleton 43' Sunderland 89'	Report	McQueen 86' McIlroy 88'

Wembley, London

Attendance: 99,219

Referee: Ron Challis (Kent)

Arsenal

Manchester United


GK	1	Pat Jennings
RB	2	Pat Rice (c)
LB	3	Sammy Nelson
CM	4	Brian Talbot
CB	5	David O'Leary
CB	6	Willie Young
RM	7	Liam Brady
CF	8	Alan Sunderland
CF	9	Frank Stapleton
CM	10	David Price	83'
LM	11	Graham Rix
Substitute:
DF	12	Steve Walford	83'
Manager:
Terry Neill


GK	1	Gary Bailey
RB	2	Jimmy Nicholl
LB	3	Arthur Albiston
CM	4	Sammy McIlroy
CB	5	Gordon McQueen
CB	6	Martin Buchan (c)
RM	7	Steve Coppell
CF	8	Jimmy Greenhoff
CF	9	Joe Jordan
CM	10	Lou Macari
LM	11	Mickey Thomas
Substitute:
DF	12	Brian Greenhoff
Manager:
Dave Sexton

References

External links

FA Cup

FA Cup
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1978–79 in English football

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National teams

League competitions

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Cup competitions

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Other

Manchester United 3–5 West Bromwich Albion (1978)

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Notable league matches

Continental

UEFA Champions League Final	2006
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UEFA Europa League Finals	2000 2019
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final	1970
European Super Cup	1994