The 1977 FA Cup final was the final match of the 1976–77 FA Cup, the 96th season of England's premier cup football competition. The match was played on 21 May 1977 at Wembley Stadium, London, and it was contested by Liverpool and Manchester United. United won the game 2–1. All three goals came in a five-minute period early in the second half. Stuart Pearson opened the scoring when he latched onto a long ball forward and drove a hard shot past Ray Clemence. Liverpool equalised through Jimmy Case soon after, as he turned and hooked a right foot half-volley into the top corner, giving Stepney no chance. However, just three minutes later, United regained the lead when Lou Macari's shot deflected off teammate Jimmy Greenhoff's chest and looped into the net past Clemence and Phil Neal on the line. Jimmy Greenhoff's brother Brian was also in the United line-up, making them the first pair of brothers to play in a winning FA Cup final team since George and Ted Robledo played for Newcastle United in 1952.
Liverpool had already won the league title, which meant Manchester United qualified for the 1977–78 European Cup Winners' Cup regardless of the result. Liverpool then won the European Cup just four days later, so United's victory prevented them from becoming the first English club to win the continental treble of League, FA Cup, and European Cup titles; United would achieve this feat instead 22 years later.
For Tommy Docherty, this was his first FA Cup final win in four attempts: he had lost as a player with Preston in 1954, as a manager with Chelsea in 1967 and with Manchester United in 1976.
Match details
GK 1 Ray ClemenceRB 2 Phil NealLB 3 Joey JonesCB 4 Tommy SmithMF 5 Ray KennedyCB 6 Emlyn Hughes (c)FW 7 Kevin KeeganMF 8 Jimmy CaseMF 9 Steve HeighwayFW 10 David Johnson MF 11 Terry McDermottSubstitute:MF 12 Ian Callaghan Manager: Bob Paisley GK 1 Alex StepneyRB 2 Jimmy NichollLB 3 Arthur AlbistonCM 4 Sammy McIlroyCB 5 Brian GreenhoffCB 6 Martin Buchan (c)RM 7 Steve CoppellCF 8 Jimmy GreenhoffCF 9 Stuart PearsonCM 10 Lou MacariLM 11 Gordon Hill Substitute:MF 12 David McCreery Manager: Tommy Docherty Match officials Assistant referees: Clive White R. Rodell Fourth official: C. J. RileyMatch rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Replay if scores still level One named substitute
References
External links LFC History Match Report