These are a few of the best FA Cup semifinals played out in England’s flagship cup. The FA Cup final might be the Ascot of English football, the games played in the round before are often more exciting. The FA Cup semifinals include four teams, just one game from the Wembley showpiece. As none of the teams are playing at home, the semifinals are similar to the final.
Crystal Palace Vs Liverpool
On paper, Liverpool were the much stronger team in this 1990 FA Cup semifinal showdown. Yet, the great thing about the cup is that league form goes out of the window. In this FA Cup semifinal, Crystal Palace rose to the occasion against mighty Liverpool.
In the first half, Liverpool were largely on top. Rush put them in front after latching onto a penetrating pass. At halftime, they remained just one goal up.
Palace equalized straight from the halftime kickoff. They went a goal up after playing a free-kick into the Liverpool box. But the Reds were not defeated and equalized from their set-piece with a great strike from the left of Palace’s penalty box. When the referee gave a penalty to Liverpool, they reasserted their 3–2 lead before Crystal Palace headed home a late equalizer to make the score 3–3.
It had been a cracking half of FA Cup soccer, and the game was still in the balance. As such, the game went to extra time. In the second half of extra time, Pardew headed the ball into the back of Liverpool’s net. That goal made the score 4–3 and won one of the best FA Cup semifinals in history.
Liverpool Vs Arsenal
The longest FA Cup semifinal played was that of Liverpool’s 1980 FA Cup clash with Arsenal. There was nothing between the teams after the first game, which ended 0–0. Nor was there anything between them in the replay, which ended 1–1. In the third game, an Arsenal goal in the first minute of the game put them ahead, but Liverpool equalized in the dying minutes to force another replay.
The teams played out the final replay at Highfield Road. In that game, Arsenal scored first and held their lead. As the game ended 1–0, they went through to the final after 420 minutes of FA Cup semifinal soccer.
Chesterfield Vs Middlesbrough
Neither Chesterfield nor Middlesbrough is a team that reaches the FA Cup semifinals that often. Two clubs that have won little between them went head-to-head in the semifinals of this 1997 semifinal. Middlesbrough were the obvious favorites to progress to the final against a third-division Chesterfield team.
The Chesterfield fairytale cup run continued in this FA Cup semifinal. During the game, they went two goals up and had another goal dubiously ruled out. That much allowed Middlesbrough back into the game, and they came back from two goals behind to lead 3–2. However, a late Chesterfield equalizer took the game to a replay.
Chesterfield could not repeat their display in the replay. During that game, Middlesbrough ran out comfortable 3–0 winners to seal a place at the Twin Towers. Nevertheless, it was still a terrific FA Cup run for Chesterfield.
Liverpool Vs Everton
As a derby game, this 1977 FA Cup semifinal had a little extra spice. Liverpool had an outstanding team and were winning plenty of trophies, but Everton were more than a match for the ‘creme of Merseyside.’ They showed that in the first game of this great FA Cup semifinal.
Although the Reds went a goal up, Everton struck back with an equalizer. Liverpool later restored their lead before Everton scored again to make the score 2–2. In the dying moments of the game, an Everton forward turned in a cross to seemingly seal a great 3–2 victory. However, the referee dubiously ruled the goal out, and the game went to a replay.
In the replay, Liverpool went ahead from the penalty spot during the first half. Liverpool trebled that lead with two further goals to seal a 3–0. The red half of Merseyside celebrated a great FA Cup triumph that booked their place at the Twin Towers.
End Of My Best FA Cup Semifinals Rant
Those were four of the best FA Cup semifinals ever seen, which had plenty of goals and dramatic moments. Such matches were great adverts for FA Cup football that showed what the magic of the cup is all about.