The Road to the Millennium Stadium

12th Victory Please!
By Chris O'Brien
May 18 2005

It's been another memorable journey to the F.A Cup final, as United reach the final two of the great competition for a record 17th time. The Red Army are set to make the trip to the Millennium Stadium where Arsenal stand in the way of success, as Cardiff hosts its last F.A Challenge Cup final.

Disappointments in the Premiership and on the continent will all be forgotten if Manchester United can beat Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and lift the F.A Challenge Cup at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Under-fire Sir Alex Ferguson takes his Red Devils side to Cardiff aiming to win back-to-back Cups for the first time in the club's illustrious history and also aiming for a record 12th victory in the world's greatest knock-out competition.

It has certainly been an interesting run to the F.A Cup, with some memorable matches seeing United on their way to a record 17th final. It could all have ended so early for United, who stuttered past non-league opposition courtesy of a replay at the first hurdle, but since then have brushed aside quality top-flight teams to book a ticket to the Welsh capital, conceding only one goal in the process. ManUtdWeb takes a look back at another memorable journey for the Red Army.

F.A Cup Third Round
Manchester United 0-0 Exeter City

Sir Alex Ferguson showed a distinct lack of respect for United's Conference opponents, fielding a very weak side for the visit of the Grecians and paid a heavy price. The visiting side played with pride and passion in front of 9,000 travelling fans, and bettered the inexperienced United players such as Chris Eagles and David Joins for long periods.
With the likes of Tim Howard, Phillip Neville and Wesley Brown starting the game, and Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo being introduced later on, United should still have had enough to beat the Devon outfit. But complacency gets you nowhere in the F.A Cup, and Exeter battled so hard to get a deserved replay and to humiliate the Cup holders.

F.A Cup Third Round Replay
Exeter City 0-2 Manchester United

Sir Alex clearly learnt his lesson from the first tie, fielding a much strengthened side for the journey south to the real St.James' Park. There were still some nervy moments for the 1999 Treble winners against a side who had only scraped a draw at lowly Isthmian Premier side Billericay Town in the F.A Trophy days earlier.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave the visitors the lead after only nine minutes and a bumper crowd expected to see United roll over the part-timers. However, Exeter battled hard and it wasn't until Wayne Rooney's late goal that the tie was beyond doubt. A home tie against an improving Middlesbrough was the reward for stumbling past brave Exeter.

F.A Cup Fourth Round
Manchester United 3-0 Middlesbrough

In complete contrast to the Exeter games, an emphatic Manchester United cruised into the last 16 with a demolition job of Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough. A packed Old Trafford were expected a tight contest with the hosts fielding a midfield including the unfashionable trio Phil Neville, John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune. However, it was O'Shea who gave the Reds the lead as he capped a fine performance with a goal in the very unfamiliar role of attacking midfield.
The Irishman stepped aside in the second-half though as teenage sensation Rooney stole the show. An incredible brace, including a candidate for goal of the season left the home fans on their feet as the England international took his Cup goal tally to three for the season.

F.A Cup Fifth Round
Everton 0-2 Manchester United

The media were tipping an upset as surprise package of the season Everton hosted United, with Rooney's return to his former club dominating the pre-match previews. However, the return of the youngster failed to motivate his former team-mates as United served up another impressive performance to knock the Scousers out at the fifth round stage. Fortune, an unlikely hero in the Cup thus far, gave a hungry United side the lead before Ronaldo tied up the win with the goals coming either side of the break.
It was not the scoreline or Rooney's return that took the headlines, however, with crowd trouble outside Goodison Park and objects thrown at Ulsterman Roy Carroll dominating the press coverage.

F.A Cup Quarter-Final
Southampton 0-4 Manchester United

Southampton, now facing Championship football, were struggling at the wrong end of the Premiership table all season and the Cup provided rest bite for Saints supporters, but the red side of the south coast had nothing to cheer as United marched into town. Revealing the defensive frailties of Harry Redknapp's out-of-sorts line-up United dominated throughout with a touch of arrogance in their display as they cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win.
The backlash that Southampton feared after United's Champions League exit duly materialised in the form of goals from Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Paul Scholes. 30,971 watched as the Red Devils booked their place in the F.A Cup semi-finals, with the competition quickly looking like our only chance of silverware.

F.A Cup Semi-Final
Newcastle United 1-4 Manchester United (neutral venue)

Newcastle were to stage no backlash after their humiliating Uefa Cup exit, and instead were simply outclassed by a United side desperate to retain the F.A Cup for successive seasons. A close encounter was expected, but the Reds were too good for Graeme Souness' side who were languishing in the bottom-half of the table as they visited the Millennium Stadium against the wishes of both sets of fans.
A flicked finish from Van Nistelrooy started the rout, whilst Scholes doubled the advantage with a fine header before the break, and Ruud netted again soon after the interval. Shola Ameobi made it a contest again for the Magpies, but his strike proved only consolation as Ronaldo booked United a swift return to the Millennium Stadium, with Arsenal confirmed as opponents the following day.

So, it's the two kings of the Cup who face off on May 21st, both looking to win a peice of silverware this season. Arsenal have not had an easy ride to the final, struggling against Championship sides Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United before edging past Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers. It promises to be an epic showdown, and expect this one to go all the way. The record of no penalty shoot-outs at a Cup final could well be in jeopardy.

COME ON MUFC!