Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in 1999 is the FA Cup’s greatest semi-final – it had everything.
That’s the view of ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney, who has also named one match he played in as one of his three greatest last-four ties.
Getty – ContributorRyan Giggs scored arguably the most famous FA Cup semi-final goal in history[/caption]
It’s Wembley weekend as Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace vie for a place in the May 17 final.
Villa and Palace kick off the action on Saturday, with the two clubs looking for their first final appearance since 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Then it’s a battle between City and Forest, who are also tussling for a Champions League spot against one another.
For City, the match represents their last chance to scoop major silverware this season before the Club World Cup starts in June.
It would also be the last trophy that skipper Kevin De Bruyne could lift before he departs on a free transfer this summer.
As for Forest, it’s been 34 years since their last final outing, which saw Tottenham Hotspur prevail as 2-1 winners in extra-time.
And fans will be hoping the upcoming ties will prove to be the latest in semi-final classics.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com ahead of the two fixtures, Deeney was asked for his top three greatest semi-finals, here’s who he had to say…
3. Watford vs Wolves – 2019
In what was arguably Watford’s greatest day in their history, they sealed their place in their second FA Cup final with a stunning comeback win.
Raul Jimenez seemed to have sealed victory for the Midlands outfit when he put his side 2-0 up in the 62nd minute, only for Deeney to help turn the game on its head.
AFPDeeney scored in Watford’s stunning 3-2 win over Wolves in 2019[/caption]
Substitute Gerard Deulofeu pulled one back for the Hornets, before Deeney converted a spot-kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send the game into extra-time.
And Watford fans were then sent into dreamland after Deulofeu curled in an exquisite winner as they booked a final meeting with City, which they ended up losing 6-0.
Commenting on the match, Deeney said: “It was a good day, I remember when we did the draw, it felt like the same [as other teams] this year, like, ‘Please don’t be Man City. Anyone else but City.’
“And then I think it was Brighton first and then Man City, and you’re just like, ‘Oh yes, we’ve got a chance now.’
“And then we play Wolves, I think we already beat them earlier in the year, but I think Wolves would say they felt like they could beat us as well.
“Obviously we’re 2-0 down, there wasn’t much in it, I remember we had a chance in the first half where I crossed it to Andre [Gray], and he went with his foot instead of his head and it just went over the bar.
“And then they scored two… it felt like at 65-70 minutes they felt it was job done because they took off Ruben Neves, [Diogo] Jota, they started going, ‘Job done, get these ready for the [next] weekend.’
“And then we brought on Gerard Deulofeu who turned the game on its head, I thought it was a great day.
“And obviously I nicked a penalty at the end and the rest is history.”
2. Manchester United vs Coventry – 2014
Coventry were a toenail away from booking a fairy tale FA Cup final place and pulling off the most epic of comebacks.
Goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes put United 3-0 up by the hour mark – but the Championship outfit refused to give up.
Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and an injury-time equaliser from Haji Wright forced the game into extra-time.
And Victor Torp seemed to have done the unthinkable in the closing seconds of extra-time after firing in from close range, only for Wright to be marginally offside in the build-up.
It was United who emerged victorious on penalties, where they would go on to beat City in the final.
Commenting on the six-goal thriller, Deeney simply stated: “I’ll put the Man United-Coventry one up there.
“I thought that was a good game, I’ll put that in second.”
1. Manchester United vs Arsenal – 1999
One of the most memorable semi-final matches produced arguably the most famous goals – not just in the FA Cup – but in English football history.
The two teams were the powerhouses of the Premier League at the time, with defending champions Arsenal coming unstuck against the Red Devils at Villa Park.
United led 1-0 heading into the break through David Beckham, before Dennis Bergkamp levelled up the scoring midway through the second half.
Just five minutes after the equaliser, Roy Keane was sent off, which saw Arsenal take control of the match, and they were then handed the perfect chance to win it late on after Phil Neville fouled Ray Parlour in the match.
But in another dramatic twist, Peter Schmeichel saved Bergkamp’s last minute penalty, with the Dutchman never taking a penalty in again in his career.
The script was set for a hero, and Ryan Giggs was that man as he slalomed through the Arsenal midfield and defence before smashing into the roof of the net, with his celebration in whipping his top off and exposing his chest hair just as iconic as the goal itself.
Having his say on the match, Deeney remarked: “That will always be my number one.
“It was one of a few that I went to as a kid, my brother used to play for Villa, so he got tickets for it, my brother was a ball boy.
“Obviously when you don’t have an allegiance to any of the teams, United going down to ten men and then Giggsy just going on that run.
“It was like, ‘Are they going to get him in a minute? Oh s***, they’re not going to get him,’ and then it goes in.
“I was only ten-years-old, it was just an unbelievable game to be at, that will always be number one for me.”
