1981 FA Cup Final Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

The 1981 F.A. Cup became only the tenth final in history to finish in a draw, and to a replay it went on a damp Wednesday evening in April. But the fireworks were well and truly lit that night, as the nation was treated to a cracker, and a goal of sublime quality by Ricky Villa as Spurs clinched the F.A. Cup for the 6th time in their history.

The game flowed from the very first whistle, with both Spurs and City finding the back of the net in the opening exchanges, and thats how it remained until the second half, when Bennet went down in the penalty-area and Sheffield referee Keith Hackett awarded a spot-kick to City, the first in a final since 1962 and only the fifth ever in a Wembley final.

Reeves converted the penalty, but as before Spurs came back, and with twenty minutes remaining Crooks equalised, setting the stage for one of the greatest winning goals ever seen in a Wembley final.

Facing a sea of blue shirts as he picked the ball up on the edge of the City area, Villa embarked on an amazing weaving run through the City defence before sliding the ball past an advancing Corrigan and wheeling away in celebration. A truly spectacular goal to decide a classic F.A. Cup final

Enjoy this unbelievable final once again in this specially produced programme featuring extended highlights of the first clash and the full uninterrupted 90 minutes of the first Wembley replay and all the post-match reaction.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1981
• FA
• Cup
• Final
• Tottenham
• Hotspur
• Manchester
• City

[zzzaaa0990]

One of the best game ever played,well done to both teams for serving up a classic!Pity we don't see quality matches these days and as for the world cup last year...dreary and grim stuff which left a bad taste in my mouth.

[capricious71]

One of the great finals and mad to think it's 30 years ago because I remember it really well. It doesn't even look that old when you watch it.

[jjgfootball]

tipical city

[3rk4u]

i hate watching this,i was 11 at the time an just started supporting city,broke my heart,but it shows what a great final it was,that pundits still talk about it to this day,spurs and city played some great football.

[ebillyboi]

when villa scored....i went ballistic!!

cmon harry and u spurs!!

[Daydreamergirl1]

Thanks for putting this up. I went to Wembley but not to the replay. Great to see Steves goal again, remember watching the game on the tv. Steve was a school friend of mine and got me tickets to the final!

[DixyPots]

THANK YOU ATTACHEFAN !!!

Ive been telling people for YEARS about McKenzies goal. Villas goal was good but why dont we see more of McKenzies goal. YES they happened in the same match should NOT mean that one is forever shown but the other disappears into oblivion. Its totally crazy how such a GEAT STRIKE is ignored.

Even John Motson on the day said it will go down as one of the best cup final goals OF ALL TIME. Its worth noting that he did NOT say that about Villas goal

[attachefan]

As a City fan, that final haunts me...how we didnt win...1-0 with 10 minutes left, Spurs equalise via an own goal...20 minutes left in the reply we were 2-1 up, and lose 3-2. Mckenzie's goal was better than Villa's though!

[dicktone]

I was. It was exciting!

[northlondoner1]

Great i wish i actually was alive too see this