Top four FA Cup giant killings since 2000
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Wigan Athletic were battling relegation in the Premier League but produced the moment of the season by stunning Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium in the 2013 FA Cup final.
In homage to Roberto Martinez’s giant-killers, we’ve gonethrough the archives and found four more legendary ‘cupsets’ that rocked thecompetition.
Leicester City 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers – 2001
Roy Essandoh. Remember the name? Wycombe Wanderers signedhim after he answered their call to arms for a striker via Teletext!
Wycombe were riding a crest of a wave and had already beatenWolves and Wimbledon before meeting Premier League Leicester in thequarter-finals.
But the step up in quality phase Wycombe who went one-nilahead versus the Foxes before the finale from Ceefax forward Essandoh who poppedup with a memorable 90th minute winner.
Cue pandemonium!
Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley – 2008
The Anfield crowned were stunned when Barnsley skipper BrianHoward struck in second half stoppage-time.
Liverpool had the likes of Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher andgoal-scorer Dirk Kuyt in the team but were on the wrong end of a FA Cup giantkilling in 2008.
The Tykes’ keeper Luke Steele pulled off a string of match-savingstops to keep Barnsley in the game.
And with the game locked at 1-1, Howard drove at the heartof the Liverpool to defence and drilled a shot past Charles Itandje to win it.
Manchester United 0-1 Leeds United – 2010
Manchester United just didn’t lose at Old Trafford in thecup under Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact, this was the first time the Red Devils hadever been knocked out in the third round under SAF.
A Leeds front two of Luciano Becchio and Jermaine Beckford workedtirelessly all game, and it was Beckford that would be the hero with hisnineteenth minute strike.
The bitter rivalry had festered for six years since the pairlast met in the league 2004. This made the win even sweeter for the Whites,particularly behind enemy lines.
Sutton United 1-0 Leeds United – 2017
Sutton United have had their fare share of FA Cup giantkillers through the years – 1989 against Coventry City springs to mind.
But in 2017 the non-league outfit went all the way to thefifth round for the first time in their history beating former top flightchampions Leeds.
Gander Green Lane went into raptures after a 1-0 win thanksto a Jamie Collins 53rd minute penalty.
Former Arsenal man Roarie Deacon was a shining light intheir cup run as the whole team went down in FA Cup folklore.
