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banner Thursday, 10 May, 2001, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK
1988 - Beasant's saving grace
1953 1958 1961 1971 1973 1976
1978 1979 1981 1987 1988 1990

Click on the dates above for a tour around some of the greatest FA Cup finals in football history.

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.

Dave Beasant (left) hugs Alan Cork after Wimbledon's victory
Dave Beasant hugs Alan Cork after Wimbledon's victory
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.

FA Cup Final 1988
Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool
Scorer: Sanchez 37
HT: 1-0
Att: 98,203

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