What happened in our last final against Spurs?

Submitted by daniel on
Picture

The 2008/09 League Cup was at stake when the sides did battle at Wembley, with Reds keeper Ben Foster emerging as the hero.

Sir Alex Ferguson rotated his side to some extent, with Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck rewarded for their efforts during the cup run, while Foster got the nod to start in goal, ahead of Edwin van der Sar, after appearing in the semi-final second leg against Derby County.

Current centre-back Jonny Evans was in the XI but there was no Wayne Rooney, who was ruled out with a virus.

It proved to be a goalless 120 minutes against Harry Redknapp's north Londoners, with neither team able to break the deadlock.

Foster made one stunning save to deny danger man Aaron Lennon, while Cristiano Ronaldo hit a post towards the end of normal time.

A penalty shootout was required to decide the winners, with Ryan Giggs slotting the opening kick past Heurelho Gomes. Jamie O'Hara's effort was then kept out by Foster, who had clearly done his research on the takers.

Carlos Tevez, Vedran Corluka and Ronaldo all netted but David Bentley sent his attempt off target to allow Anderson to gleefully claim the silverware.

Although the two clubs have done so well in the FA Cup, there has never been a final in that competition between United and Spurs.

However, we have faced each other in Europe before, back in 1963.

During our first-ever entry into the European Cup-Winners' Cup, after beating Willem II, the Reds met the north Londoners, with the away leg ending in a 2-0 defeat. Dave Mackay and Terry Dyson scored the goals in the second half at White Hart Lane.

A week later, Matt Busby's men somehow turned things around at Old Trafford, winning 4-1 on the night to seal a 4-3 aggregate triumph.

David Herd dived to head in the opener in the second leg before Spurs suffered a huge blow when losing influential captain Mackay to a broken leg, leaving them down to 10 men.

Herd stabbed home to make it 2-0 and level the tie, only for the brilliant Jimmy Greaves to smash home for the visitors and turn things back their way.

Amid a feverish atmosphere, Bobby Charlton produced an expert finish to equalise on aggregate and then beat keeper Bill Brown at his near post, with seven minutes remaining, sealing a remarkable comeback.