From Ryan Giggs’ memorable mazy run and end towards Arsenal in 1999, to Trevor Sinclair’s unbelievable bicycle kick for QPR towards Barnsley, the FA Cup has produced a few of the most unforgettable targets.
A lot of these targets have are available FA Cup finals, of which there have been 143 up to now.
Right here, we have now listed what we predict are the ten greatest FA Cup closing targets of all time.
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10
Didier Drogba v Manchester United (2007)
Ivorian scores winner in first closing at new Wembley
Didier Drogba’s extra-time strike towards Manchester United within the 2007 FA Cup closing was an indication of issues to return for the Chelsea striker and his aspect within the FA Cup.
After 116 minutes with no aim on the new Wembley, the Ivorian took issues into his personal palms, enjoying a neat one-two with Frank Lampard on the sting of United’s field earlier than gently lobbing the ball over the onrushing Edwin van der Sar.
The aim, which was sufficient to clinch the trophy for the Blues, was the primary of 4 FA Cup closing targets Drogba scored for Chelsea, with the striker once more discovering the goal in 2009, 2011 and 2012. On every of these events, Chelsea went on to win.
9
Alexis Sanchez v Aston Villa (2015)
Sanchez scores stunner as Arsenal run riot
The 2015 FA Cup closing between Arsenal and Aston Villa was a non-contest, with Arsene Wenger’s aspect working out 4-0 winners on the day because of targets from Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud.
Sanchez’s Fiftieth-minute strike was the choose of the bunch. The Chilean hit a stunner from 30 yards out, the ball dipping and swerving Jabulani-style earlier than crashing off the crossbar and into the web.
The victory was Arsenal’s twelfth closing win – making certain their place as essentially the most profitable crew in FA Cup historical past.
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8
Ricky Villa v Man Metropolis (1981)
Villa wins it for Spurs with solo stunner
Again within the days when FA Cup closing replays nonetheless existed, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester Metropolis performed out a draw within the 1981 closing.
Within the replay, Spurs emerged as 3-2 victors, in no brief half to Ricky Villa, who scored twice on the day, together with a memorable winner within the 76th minute. 40 yards out from aim, the Argentine by some means discovered a means by means of regardless of being surrounded by a number of Metropolis defenders earlier than slotting the ball beneath goalkeeper Joe Corrigan.
Suppose Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s well-known aim for Ajax towards NAC Breda, however with dreadful haircuts and a muddy pitch.
7
Jesse Lingard v Crystal Palace (2016)
Some targets you see coming. Others, you do not. Jesse Lingard’s game-winning aim for Manchester United towards Crystal Palace within the 2016 FA Cup closing was one of many latter.
With the scores tied at 1-1 within the one hundred and tenth minute, Antonio Valencia swung a hopeful ball into the Palace space which was deflected away by defender Damien Delaney. Out of nowhere, Lingard ran onto the deflected ball and volleyed it straight into the highest nook previous a immobile Wayne Hennessey within the Palace internet.
23 years outdated on the time, Lingard’s profession at Outdated Trafford by no means actually kicked on what number of would have hoped after his FA Cup heroics, however he’ll nonetheless at all times be remembered fondly by the United devoted for the aim.
6
Roberto Di Matteo v Middlesbrough (1997)
Di Matteo’s record-breaking strike wins cup for Chelsea
On the time it was scored, Roberto Di Matteo’s strike towards Middlesbrough within the 1997 FA Cup closing was the quickest within the fixture’s 125-year historical past.
Simply 42 seconds into the sport, the Chelsea midfielder scored with a thunderous strike from 30 yards out, which clipped the underside of the crossbar on its means in. The aim proved to be the winner and noticed the Blues raise the trophy for the primary time since 1970.
Di Matteo’s file has since been damaged on quite a few events, most lately by Manchester Metropolis’s Ilkay Gundogan, who scored inside 13 seconds of the 2023 closing.
5
Stuart Pearce v Tottenham (1991)
Captain Pearce smashes residence bullet free-kick
Stuart Pearce is greatest remembered for his propensity for slicing opponents in half with crunching tackles fairly than his goalscoring talents, however he was greater than able to find the web. In reality, he did so on 104 events throughout his profession.
The perfect of these targets arguably got here in a Nottingham Forest shirt within the 1991 FA Cup closing towards Tottenham, the place he opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute with a bullet of a free-kick that just about broke the web.
Sadly for Pearce, Forest went on to lose the sport 2-1, with an extra-time own-goal from Des Walker gifting Spurs the trophy.
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4
Santi Cazorla v Hull Metropolis (2014)
Cazorla free-kick kickstarts Arsenal comeback
Simply eight minutes into the 2014 FA Cup closing, Arsenal, fairly unbelievably, discovered themselves 2-0 down towards Hull Metropolis because of early targets from defenders James Chester and Curtis Davies.
On 17 minutes, nonetheless, Santi Cazorla swept in a powerful free-kick from virtually 30 yards out, beating Hull’s Allan McGregor at his far publish.
The aim sparked what’s arguably the best FA Cup closing comeback of all time, with the Gunners occurring to win 3-2 courtesy of targets from Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey.
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3
Ray Parlour & Freddie Ljungberg v Chelsea (2002)
Two superb strikes seal memorable win for Arsenal
Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Chelsea within the 2002 FA Cup closing got here courtesy of two beauties.
The primary got here from midfielder Ray Parlour, who within the seventieth minute fired in a tremendous long-range strike previous Blues keeper Carlo Cudicini.
The second got here by means of Freddie Ljungberg. Ten minutes after Parlour’s opener, the Swedish winger launched into a driving run by means of Chelsea’s defence, blitzing previous William Gallas and leaving John Terry on the ground, earlier than curling the ball superbly into the aspect netting.
They’re virtually definitely the best pair of targets to win a cup closing.
2
Youri Tielemans v Chelsea (2021)
Tielemans scorcher secures Leicester’s first FA Cup
Youri Tielemans has developed a repute over time for scoring screamers. One of many best in his assortment is his aim within the 2021 FA Cup closing for Leicester Metropolis towards Chelsea.
With 63 minutes on the clock, the Foxes midfielder discovered himself in open house close to the centre circle. From there, he drove ahead with a few touches earlier than placing his laces by means of the ball, which discovered its means into the highest nook of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s internet.
The beautiful strike was sufficient to win the match and hand Leicester their first FA Cup.
1
Steven Gerrard v West Ham (2006)
Gerrard scores trademark screamer to finish Liverpool comeback
In huge moments, huge gamers step as much as the plate, and that is precisely what Steven Gerrard did within the 2006 FA Cup closing.
Heading into the ultimate moments of the sport, Liverpool discovered themselves 3-2 down towards West Ham United and have been desperately looking for an equaliser. Gerrard offered it, drilling an excellent half-volley into the underside nook from round 35 yards out.
The Reds went on to win the match by way of a penalty shootout, lifting the FA Cup for a seventh time.
