FA Cup Final 1987
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The 1987 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City. Spurs were appearing in their third final in seven seasons, having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982 and were heavy favourites, while unfancied Coventry were appearing in their first ever final after 104 years of trying.Spurs were going for a record eighth victory and had never lost a final. In a gloriously exciting match, Coventry eventually triumphed 3-2 after extra time.
[edit] Match Review
After only two minutes had elapsed, Clive Allen had scored his 49th goal of the season,heading past keeper Steve Ogrizovic at the near-post from a perfect Chris Waddle cross.Coventry had got off to the worst possible start and this would surely signal an avalanche of goals from the bookies favourites.Within ten minutes though, the Sky Blues were level through Dave Bennett, a Cup Final loser in 1981 for Manchester City, ironically at the hands of Spurs.The London club were back in front five minutes before the break though through club captain Gary Mabbutt.Midway through the second half Coventry were level again.Dave Bennett sped down the right wing and his pin-point cross was met by striker Keith Houchen with a diving header for a memorable goal.The scores stayed level until full-time and the game went into extra time.The scene was set for a memorable finish.Six minutes into extra time Mabbutt scored again.However this time it was into the wrong net.Lloyd McGrath centred the ball and as Mabbutt stuck out a leg to try and clear, the ball took a cruel deflection off of the Spurs captain's knee past the helpless keeper Ray Clemence.He thus followed Manchester City's Tommy Hutchison, who six years earlier in the aforementioned final had also scored at both ends.
