When did the four semi-finalists last win the FA Cup? | OneFootball

The FA Cup’s semi-final weekend has arrived and it’s a fascinating final four lineup.

Crystal Palace will face Aston Villa in the first semi-final on Saturday evening, before Nottingham Forest – the Premier League’s surprise package – take on Manchester City the following day.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have largely enjoyed a stranglehold on this competition in recent years, with just three other winners since 1995. With only City remaining of that ‘Big Five’, could we see a fresh name on the trophy this season?

We’ve looked at when each of the FA Cup semi-finalists last won the trophy.

Crystal Palace – N/A

Crystal Palace have never won the FA Cup – or indeed any major trophy. The Eagles have twice finished as runners-up in this competition, losing to Manchester United on each occasion.

In 1990, a thrilling first final ended 3-3 after extra time with Ian Wright on target twice for Palace. Mark Hughes’ equaliser forced a replay, in which United prevailed 1-0 courtesy of Lee Martin’s winner.

It was agony again for Palace against the same opponents in 2016. Palace took the lead through Jason Puncheon’s 78th minute goal, only for Juan Mata to equalise just three minutes later. Jesse Lingard’s spectacular winner sealed the trophy for United.

Aston Villa – 1957

Aston Villa are seven-time winners of the FA Cup but it’s been 68 years since their last success.

The first six of Villa’s wins in the competition all came before 1920, before The Villans beat Manchester United 2-1 in the 1957 final, courtesy of Peter McParland’s brace. Villa have reached two finals since, losing to Chelsea (2000) and Arsenal (2015).

Nottingham Forest – 1959

Nottingham Forest’s last win in this competition came in 1959. Forest beat Luton Town 2-1 in the decider, after early goals from Roy Dwight and Tommy Wilson. The club’s only previous FA Cup win came after beating East Midlands rivals Derby County in 1898.

Forest reached the 1991 final but lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur, after Des Walker’s extra-time own goal.

Manchester City – 2023

Just five teams have won the FA Cup more often than Manchester City (7), with three the club’s successes coming since the turn of the millennium.

City lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 1904 and claimed further cup wins in 1934, 1956 and 1969. The club’s 1956 success is often referred to as “the Trautmann final”. City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann continued playing despite suffering a broken bone in his beck, following a collision with Birmingham City’s Peter Murphy.

The Citizens won the FA Cup for a fifth time in 2011, in a drought-breaking success. Yaya Toure’s winner against Stoke City sealed a first major trophy in 35 years and kickstarted the trophy-laden Sheikh Mansour era.

City then thrashed Watford 6-0 in the joint-biggest FA Cup final scoreline in 2019, on route to England’s first domestic treble.

In 2023, Ilkay Gundogan scored twice – including the fastest ever FA Cup final goal after 12 seconds – as City beat Manchester United in the first-ever Manchester Derby cup final.

That season, City matched the 1998/99 achievement of their cross-town rivals by winning a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.

Read – The best FA Cup semi-finals of modern times

See more – Key talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend

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