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United’s first home cup repeat for over 50 years
Monday 13 January 2025 14:23
Manchester United have been handed home draws against the same opponents in both domestic cup competitions for the first time since the 1971/72 season.
The Reds’ reward for dumping record winners Arsenal out of the competition at the first stage is an Old Trafford tie against Leicester City next month.
After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, Ruben Amorim’s men converted all our penalties in the shootout to win 5-3 on spot-kicks, with Altay Bayindir saving Kai Havertz’s effort.
It sets up another meeting with the Foxes, who we beat 5-2 in October’s Carabao Cup fourth round, between Friday 7 and Monday 10 February and Ruud van Nistelrooy has been involved in both fixtures, first as our interim manager and now as boss of Leicester.
The double meeting is very much a rare occurrence. Indeed, only once have we been handed home draws with the same club in both cup competitions during any season.
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In October 1971, we faced Stoke at Old Trafford in the League Cup, drawing 1-1 as Alan Gowling’s 85th-minute equaliser forced a replay. The second game finished goalless so it went to a third match, with the Reds going out 2-1, despite George Best opening the scoring at the Victoria Ground.
Following the turn of the year, the two teams met again in the FA Cup, with Frank O’Farrell’s side again at home. In similar circumstances to the League Cup encounter, United needed a leveller five minutes from time, with Best on the scoresheet, to peg back the Potters.
In the replay, the Reds led through another Best strike but were beaten in extra-time, with Terry Conroy grabbing the winner.
We have played the same side at home in both domestic cups on a few other occasions.
Two instances were actually during the same campaign – 1969/70. We opened our League Cup run with a 1-0 home triumph over Middlesbrough, David Sadler scoring the only goal of the game.
Boro again provided the opposition in the FA Cup quarter-finals, following the famous 8-2 away win at Northampton Town, when the majestic Best scored six times.
A 1-1 draw at Ayresome Park, Carlo Sartori on the mark, ensured a second tie at Old Trafford. Bobby Charlton and Willie Morgan secured a 2-1 victory, to set up three tempestuous clashes with Leeds United in the last four.
The Yorkshiremen eventually prevailed with Billy Bremner bagging the only goal across three tight affairs.
Alex Stepney in action during the 1972 FA Cup match against Stoke at Old Trafford.
Manchester City were also beaten in that competition, 3-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to a Morgan penalty and Brian Kidd brace. We’d already played the Blues in a two-legged League Cup semi-final, losing 2-1 at Maine Road before a 2-2 draw, and 4-3 aggregate exit, at the Theatre of Dreams.
Francis Lee’s late penalty winner in the first leg was hotly contested, particularly by Ian Ure, who conceded it for a foul on the City striker, and over 63,000 fans packed into our home in the hope of overturning the deficit.
Mike Summerbee’s goal made it 2-2 on the night, after efforts by Paul Edwards and Denis Law had overturned Ian Bowyer’s opener, and the visitors went on to beat West Brom in the final at Wembley.
Glenn Hoddle and Mickey Thomas compete for the ball in the 1979/80 FA Cup third round.
During the 1979/80 term, there were some real cup battles with Tottenham, and two of them took place at Old Trafford.
Firstly, in the League Cup, a 2-1 reverse at White Hart Lane was recovered in the second leg, with a 3-1 triumph. Mickey Thomas, Steve Coppell and an own goal by Paul Miller did the damage as Dave Sexton’s men progressed.
Remarkably, the FA Cup draw threw up the same fixture, at the first stage again – Spurs away. Sammy McIlroy’s penalty cancelled out Osvaldo Ardiles’s opener but the skilful Argentina international netted again in the replay to earn an extra-time success for the north Londoners.
Spurs managed to keep a clean sheet despite playmaker Glenn Hoddle going in goal when Milija Aleksic broke his jaw in an aerial challenge with Joe Jordan.
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Monday 13 January 2025 14:23
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