1988 FA Cup Final: Wimbledon vs Liverpool

Match Report

There were many who refused to believe that one of the greatest of all Liverpool teams could be beaten by the long-ball specialists who had recently infiltrated football's top flight.  Most up-and-under heathens viewed a Liverpool win as essential to the future of the English game, a triumph of good over evil.

But Wimbledon took little notice of what anyone thought and, if their victory was unpopular with the purists, it remained a glorious tactical triumph.

Coach Don Howe had devised a plan of stopping John Barnes getting the ball by cutting his supply lines, particularly from Liverpool's ball-playing back four.

Liverpool still fashioned chances, but found Dave Beasant in fine form, while Peter Beardsley had a goal ruled out for offside.

Instead, it was Wimbledon who snatched the lead when Sanchez rose highest in a crowded penalty area to complement Wise's free kick with a looping header beyond the stranded Bruce Grobbelaar.

Beasant preserved the lead with further saves from Ray Houghton and Alan Hansen, but his crowning glory came on the hour.

Clive Goodyear was adjudged to have fouled John Aldridge and the striker dusted himself down to plant his penalty firmly to Beasant's left. One brilliant, diving save later, the Cup was Wimbledon's as Beasant became the first man to save an FA Cup final penalty and the first keeper to lift the cup as captain.