For the wet-eyed FA Cup fan, this week’s fifth round games are the perfect example of how much magic remains in the old competition. The draw for the last 16 games featured a number of pairings that are of great importance in the younger and less recent English football history.
From Daniel Amokachi to Kayode Odejayi, there have been a number of players whose names will be featured extensively in the fan base ahead of this week’s games after becoming synonymous with big moments in the FA Cup.
That’s why most of the eight games, which take place between Tuesday and Thursday, are already receiving a great response from fans across the country …
Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea, 2008
After knocking out Liverpool at Anfield courtesy of Brian Howard’s stoppage time winners, the Tykes advanced to the quarter-finals against Chelsea, confident that they could cause another big surprise. The Blues, managed by Avram Grant, arrived at Oakwell as owners but were undone when towering striker Kayode Odejayi climbed from six meters to steer Martin Devaney’s cross past Carlo Cudicini.
Barnsley was on his way to Wembley dreaming they could win the trophy with only Portsmouth, West Brom and Cardiff standing in their way. But while the Yorkshire side didn’t quite pull off that miracle, the memories of their 2008 double giant homicide will be fresh when Chelsea return to Oakwell on Thursday.
Burnley 7-0 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 1966
While these two clubs were rivals to the Premier League for four years until the Cherries relegated to the championship in 2020, they were miles apart in the year England won the World Cup.
When they met in the Cup in January 1966, Burnley was in the top division, finishing third behind Liverpool and Leeds, while Bournemouth was still known as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (hence the AFC they know today) and played their football in the third division after the merger of Division 3 South and Division 3 North.
Amazingly, they kept the Clarets in a 1-1 draw but lost 7-0 in the replay. It was only the second and third time the couple competed against each other. In the fifth round of this week, their head-to-head record is fascinating: Burnley won only six games compared to the 15 triumphs of the former Minnows Bournemouth.
Everton 4-1 Tottenham, 1995
Everton versus Spurs was an annual fixture of the Premier League era, but Wednesday’s bizarre duel marks the first time the two historic giants have met in the FA Cup in 26 years. When the two numbers came out side by side, Blues was transported back to 1995 and the semifinals against Tottenham on Elland Road.
Everton didn’t feel like it, but it blew the London club apart when Daniel Amokachi wrote his name into Toffees folklore. Everton led through Matt Jackson and Graham Stuart and conceded a penalty from Jurgen Klinsmann to reach a thrilling final. But when striker Paul Rideout, who would lead the winners against Manchester United in the final, was injured, the Nigerian Amokachi set out – yes, really! – and made braces.
“Daniel went out onto the field, the fourth officer held up the board and that was it,” admitted manager Joe Royle. After watching Amokachi on a Graham Stuart cross before tapping home a feed from Gary Ablett with a minute to go, the Everton boss was delighted that a man who is now synonymous with the game had called him.
Manchester United 0-1 West Ham, 2001
All of Old Trafford froze when Fabien Barthez raised his arm and stood completely still. Except for one man: Paolo Di Canio.
The underdog Italian ignored all offside screams, stayed cool and pushed the ball past the Manchester United shot stop to give West Ham a shock win. The through pass had been perfectly coordinated by Frederic Kanoute, and Di Canio had made his run exquisitely. Why Barthez stood in place for so long with his iconic sleeves rolled up, only he knew, but the Hammers attacker made no mistake. The instruction to play to the whistle has never been more fitting.
It was the only fourth round goal at the time, and before the two teams meet on Tuesday at Old Trafford, it remains one of the most iconic images from the many clashes between the two over the years.
Swansea 2-3 Manchester City, 2019
They say life isn’t fair, and football certainly wasn’t in Swansea two years ago. Against champions Manchester City, the Championship Swans led 2-1 to a controversial award for City and a winning goal for the visitors who seemed to be sidelined.
VAR was tested in the 2019 FA Cup before its full-time introduction to the Premier League this summer. While Liberty Stadium was equipped to use the technology, an FA decree had ruled that the VAR should only be used for games played on the current Premier League grounds.
Swansea center-back Mike van der Hoorn insisted that City had the luck of a top team, adding: “In this situation, VAR would have been of great help to us as it would have cost us two goals. But it’s not there, there’s not much we can do about it. ”
Even Pep Guardiola admitted after the event: “I’m sorry it was offside. I don’t understand why VAR is not being used in this competition at this point. Hopefully this won’t happen next season.”
VAR will always agree, but Swansea will hope they rub the green this time.
