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1979 FA Cup Final
Old Wembley Stadium (external view)
EventFA Cup 1978–79
Date12 May 1979
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeRon Challis (Kent)
Attendance99,219
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 widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever finishes in an FA Cup final. 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 and remained as manager until 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 Wembley, London
Attendance: 99,219
Referee: Ron Challis (Kent)
Talbot Goal 12'
Stapleton Goal 43'
Sunderland Goal 89'
(Report) McQueen Goal 86'
McIlroy Goal 88'
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Arsenal
Kit left arm manutdh7580
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Manchester United
GK 1 Flag of Northern Ireland Pat Jennings
RB 2 Flag of Northern Ireland Pat Rice (c)
LB 3 Flag of Northern Ireland Sammy Nelson
CM 4 Flag of England Brian Talbot
CB 5 Flag of Republic of Ireland David O'Leary
CB 6 Flag of Scotland Willie Young
RM 7 Flag of Republic of Ireland Liam Brady
CF 8 Flag of England Alan Sunderland
CF 9 Flag of Republic of Ireland Frank Stapleton
CM 10 Flag of England David Price Substituted off in the 83rd minute 83'
LM 11 Flag of England Graham Rix
Substitute:
DF 12 Flag of England Steve Walford Substituted on in the 83rd minute 83'
Manager:
Flag of Northern Ireland Terry Neill
Arsenal vs Man Utd 1979-05-12
GK 1 Flag of England Gary Bailey
RB 2 Flag of Northern Ireland Jimmy Nicholl
LB 3 Flag of Scotland Arthur Albiston
CM 4 Flag of Northern Ireland Sammy McIlroy
CB 5 Flag of Scotland Gordon McQueen
CB 6 Flag of Scotland Martin Buchan (c)
RM 7 Flag of England Steve Coppell
CF 8 Flag of England Jimmy Greenhoff
CF 9 Flag of Scotland Joe Jordan
CM 10 Flag of Scotland Lou Macari
LM 11 Flag of Wales Mickey Thomas
Substitute:
DF 12 Flag of England Brian Greenhoff
Manager:
Flag of England Dave Sexton

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Template:1978–79 in English football

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