1998 FA Cup Final
The match programme cover
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| Event | 1997–98 FA Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 16 May 1998 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Ray Parlour | ||||||
| Referee | Paul Durkin (Dorset) | ||||||
| Attendance | 79,183 | ||||||
The 1998 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1997–98 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup. The match was contested between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the original Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 16 May 1998. Six-time winners Arsenal were appearing in their thirteenth final, whereas Newcastle United, having also won the competition six times, appeared in their eleventh final. It was the third time both teams faced each other in a FA Cup final; Newcastle won the previous two encounters in 1932 and 1952.
Each team had progressed through five rounds to reach the final. Arsenal's victories were close affairs and the team required three replays, two of which ending in penalty shootouts. Newcastle's progress was more comfortable by comparison and needed only one replay in the fourth round, against Stevenage Borough. Arsenal entered the match as favourites; a fortnight prior the club won the Premier League and aimed to complete the club's second league and cup double.
Watched by a crowd of 79,183 and a television audience of more than seven million, Arsenal took a first half lead through Marc Overmars. A goal after the interval, scored by striker Nicolas Anelka gave Arsenal a 2–0 victory.
Arsenal entered the competition in the third round, receiving a bye as a Premier League club. Their opening match was a goalless draw against First Division club Port Vale at home, which meant the game was replayed at Vale Park, eleven days later. In the replay, Arsenal won 4–3 on a penalty shoot-out, with the match ending 1–1 after normal and extra time. In the fourth round, Arsenal played Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Marc Overmars scored the opening goal inside 68 seconds for the visitors and Ray Parlour added a second to give Arsenal a commanding lead, going into the interval. Although Paul Merson scored in the second half for Middlesbrough, Arsenal did enough to progress into the fifth round.
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