FA Cup 2004–05

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The FA Cup 2004–05 was the 124th season of the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup.

The competition began on 28 August 2004, with the lowest-ranked of the entrants competing in the Extra Preliminary Round. For England's top 44 clubs, from the Premier League and Football League Championship, the FA Cup began at the Third Round in January.

Ties were all single-legged and took place at the stadium of the club drawn first. If scores were level at the end of a match, the match was replayed at the away club's stadium, usually in the middle of the following week. If the scores are still level, extra-time and penalties (if necessary) are used to determine a winner. From the semi-finals onwards, the ties take place at a neutral stadium, and there are no replays. That is to say, extra-time and penalties are played if necessary to determine a winner in a single match.

The new Wembley Stadium was still at least a year away from being ready for use, so the final was staged at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 21 May 2005. The FA Cup Final was won by Arsenal on penalties after a goalless draw with Manchester United, the first time that the FA Cup Final had been decided on penalties.

[edit] Calendar

[edit] First Round Proper

This round is the first in which Football League teams from League One and League Two compete with non-league teams.

• Ties were played over the weekend of 13 November and 14 November 2004.

[edit] Second Round Proper

• Ties were played over the weekend of 4 December 2004.

[edit] Third Round Proper

This round marks the first time Championship and Premier League (top-flight) teams play. Matches were played on the weekend of Saturday, 8 January 2005.

One of the surprise results of this round came at Old Trafford where holders Manchester United were held to a 0-0 home draw against Conference National side Exeter City, although United won the replay 2-0.

United's neighbours City suffered humiliation at the hands of League One strugglers Oldham Athletic, who defeated them 1-0 at Boundary Park.

[edit] Fourth Round Proper

Ties played during the weekend of 29 January 2005

[edit] Fifth Round Proper

Matches played weekend of 19 February 2005 - replays played week commencing 28 February 2005.

The only non-Premiership side to win in this round were Leicester City, who triumphed 2-1 at Premier League side Charlton Athletic.

[edit] Sixth Round Proper

Matches played on the weekend of Saturday, 12 March 2005.

Leicester City, the only remaining non-Premiership side in the competition, lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers.

2005-03-13 16:00	Newcastle United	1 – 0	Tottenham Hotspur	St James' Park, Newcastle Attendance: 51,307 Referee: Rob Styles, Hampshire
	Kluivert  5'	Report

2005-03-12 17:15	Southampton	0 – 4	Manchester United	St Mary's Stadium, Southampton Attendance: 30,971 Referee: Howard Webb, Yorkshire
		Report	Keane  2' Ronaldo  45' Scholes  48' 87'

2005-03-12 12:15	Bolton Wanderers	0 – 1	Arsenal	Reebok Stadium, Bolton Attendance: 23,523 Referee: Steve Bennett, Kent
		Report	Ljungberg  3'

2005-03-13 13:05	Blackburn Rovers	1 – 0	Leicester City	Ewood Park, Blackburn Attendance: 22,113 Referee: Neale Barry, Lincolnshire
	Dickov  83'	Report

[edit] Semi-finals

• Matches played on the weekend of Saturday, 16 April 2005.
• Both ties were played at neutral venues

2005-04-16 12:15	Arsenal	3 – 0	Blackburn Rovers	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Attendance: 52,077 Referee: Steve Dunn
	Pirès  42' van Persie  84'  90'	Report

2005-04-17 13:00	Newcastle United	1 – 4	Manchester United	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Attendance: 69,280 Referee: Mike Riley
	Ameobi  59'	Report	van Nistelrooy  19'  58' Scholes  45' Ronaldo  76'

[edit] Final

The 2005 FA Cup Final was contested between Manchester United and Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Manchester United dominated the game but failed to take any of their opportunities (although Rio Ferdinand did have a goal disallowed; which would have been his first goal for the club), and ultimately they went on to lose in the first FA Cup Final penalty shoot-out. Paul Scholes missed his kick, leaving Patrick Vieira with the opportunity to win the Cup for the Gunners.

2005-05-21 15:00 BST	Arsenal	0 – 0 (a.e.t.)	Manchester United	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 71,876 Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
	Reyes  120'	(Report)

		Penalties
	Lauren Ljungberg van Persie Cole Vieira	5 – 4	van Nistelrooy Scholes Ronaldo Rooney Keane

[edit] External links

• The FA Cup Archive at TheFA.com
• FA Cup at BBC.co.uk
• FA Cup news at Reuters.co.uk