THE EPIC !!!
ARSENAL 0 - MANCHESTER UNITED
0 (after extra-time) April
11, 1999: FA Cup semi-final, Villa Park - The two
heavy-weights of English football began the first chapter
of the epic with a high drama throughout 120 pulsating minutes.
United felt cheated when Roy Keane had a goal ruled out
for offside. Ryan Giggs skipped past Lee Dixon in the 38th
minute and crossed towards Dwight Yorke. He nodded the ball
back to Keane who rifled in from 12 yards, but the goal
was disallowed because Yorke was judged to be offside. Despite
the sending-off of Arsenal defender Nelson Vivas, the Gunners
held on to force a replay.
ARSENAL 1 - MANCHESTER UNITED
2 (after extra-time)
April 14, 1999: FA Cup semi-final replay, Villa
Park - A game which anyone who was there will never
forget. After a tense goalless first encounter, David Beckham
put United in front during the first half, only for Dennis
Bergkamp to level. Then it began to get interesting. Roy
Keane was red-carded, giving Arsenal the edge. And when
the Gunners were awarded a last-minute penalty, victory
looked assured. But Peter Schmeichel turned Bergkamp's effort
wide to send the game into extra-time, where Ryan Giggs
took centre stage. Picking up the ball in his own half,
the Welsh winger evaded four Arsenal defenders on his glory
surge into the Gunners box, then unleashed an unstoppable
near post shot which left David Seaman beaten. United went
on to beat Newcastle in the final, clinching the second
leg of their unprecedented Treble.
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