2005 FA Cup Final

The 2005 FA Cup Final was held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 21 May 2005 between Arsenal and Manchester United. In a tense but surprisingly one-sided encounter, Arsenal ran out winners after 120 goalless minutes despite being outplayed throughout the game, becoming the first club to win the cup on penalties. It was the first goalless draw in an FA Cup final since 1912.
The match took place at the Millennium Stadium for the fifth consecutive year, due to the ongoing reconstruction of Wembley Stadium, the final's usual venue. The match was refereed by Rob Styles, who was aided by assistant referees Jim Devine, Paul Canadine and fourth official Neale Barry.
The game was the 17th FA Cup final appearance for both teams, a record that Manchester United surpassed in 2007. It was Arsenal's 10th FA Cup win; only Manchester United have won the trophy more times, with 11.
==Background==
The match was the fifth meeting between the two clubs in the 2004–05 season. Despite finishing six points ahead of Manchester United in the league, Arsenal had lost both league fixtures between the clubs, as well as a League Cup fifth-round tie, which was played out by the clubs' fringe and reserve team players. Arsenal had won the season's first encounter in the FA Community Shield, also at the Millennium Stadium, by a 3–1 scoreline.
The clubs had met in an FA Cup final before – in 1979, when Arsenal won 3–2. Manchester United were appearing in their 17th FA Cup Final, their second in as many years, and had won the FA Cup on 11 of their previous 16 appearances (including beating Milwall in the 2004 final). Two of these victories had yielded a League/FA Cup "double" (in 1994 and 1996) and in 1999 they had won the 1998–99 FA Cup as part of a unique Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Arsenal were also appearing in their 17th Cup final, winning nine of the previous 16.
===Match details===
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"	ARSENAL: 	ARSENAL: 	ARSENAL: 	ARSENAL:
 	 	 	 	
GK 	1 	Jens Lehmann 	 	
RB 	12 	Lauren 	 	
CB 	28 	Kolo Touré 	 	
CB 	20 	Philippe Senderos 	 	
LB 	3 	Ashley Cole 	 	
CM 	15 	Cesc Fàbregas 	 	
CM 	4 	Patrick Vieira 	 	
CM 	19 	Gilberto Silva 	 	
RW 	7 	Robert Pirès 	 	
LW 	9 	José Antonio Reyes	 	
CF 	10 	Dennis Bergkamp 	 	
Substitutes: 	Substitutes: 	Substitutes: 	Substitutes: 	
GK 	24 	Manuel Almunia 	 	
DF 	23 	Sol Campbell 	 	
MF 	8 	Fredrik Ljungberg 	 	
MF 	17 	Edu 	 	
FW 	11 	Robin van Persie 	 	
Manager: 	Manager: 	Manager: 	Manager: 	
Arsène Wenger	Arsène Wenger	Arsène Wenger 	Arsène Wenger	
MATCH OFFICIALS
*Assistant referees:
**Jim Devine (North Yorkshire)
**Paul Canadine (South Yorkshire)
*Fourth official: Neale Barry (Lincolnshire)
MAN OF THE MATCH
* Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)	
MATCH RULES
*90 minutes.
*30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
*Penalty shootout if scores still level.
*Five substitutes named.
*Maximum of three substitutions.
==External links and references==
2005