Eighteen years ago, on Wednesday 4 February 2004, Kevin Keegan’s Manchester City snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after staging a remarkable second half comeback to overturn three-goal deficit with 10 men in an FA Cup fourth round replay away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs 3-4 City: Greatest FA Cup comeback recounts that unforgettable evening at White Hart Lane, with contributions from those involved and those who witnessed a game which has gone down in the annals of FA Cup history.
We hear from match-winner Jon Macken, who celebrates his birthday today, fellow goalscorer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Brown – who was playing for Spurs at the time – Ledley King and several City fans on journalists.
After a 1-1 draw in the initial tie, Keegan’s men got off to a nightmare start when King curled the hosts in front after two minutes, with Robbie Keane adding a second before Christian Ziege fired home a 25-yard free-kick to open up a three-goal lead.
City’s hopes of an unlikely comeback diminished when Joey Barton picked up a second yellow card for dissent at half-time, but the visitors started the second period brightly as Sylvain Distin pulled one back three minutes after the break.
A volley from Paul Bosvelt gave the 10 men hope and the fightback was complete when Wright-Phillips chipped Kasey Keller with 10 minutes remaining, but City weren’t done and in the 90th minute Macken headed home to seal an extraordinary win.
CITY+ subscribers can relive that memorable night in the documentary above.
