AFTER Cardiff City’s clash with Portsmouth in yesterday’s FA Cup final at Wembley , Inside Sport looks back at five of the classic final showdowns.

May 18 2008 Wales On Sunday

BLACKPOOL 4-3 BOLTON, 1953

STANLEY Matthews had twice been on the losing side in the final, but it proved third time lucky as he inspired Blackpool to a dramatic 4-3 victory over Bolton.

Blackpool were 3-1 down with just over 20 minutes to go when Matthews took centre stage to set up striker Stan Mortensen for the goals that completed the first FA Cup final hat-trick at Wembley.

That saw the scores levelled in the 89th minute and as Bolton tried to hang on for a replay, Matthews pushed on to create the winner for winger Bill Perry.

ARSENAL 3-2 MANCHESTER UNITED, 1979

ARSENAL looked to be cruising to victory until Manchester United produced one of the most dramatic fightbacks in FA Cup final history.

The Gunners were leading 2-0 with five minutes to go after first-half goals from Brian Talbot and Frank Stapleton, but United refused to give up.

Gordon McQueen scored what looked like being merely a consolation before Sammy McIlroy went on a jinking run and netted with two minutes left.

But just when it looked as if the match would go to extra time, Liam Brady capped a great individual performance with a run and cross for Alan Sunderland to slot the late winner.

TOTTENHAM 3-2 MANCHESTER CITY, 1981

THE original meeting between the two sides was a bland 1-1 draw – notable for City’s Tommy Hutchison scoring at both ends – but the replay turned out to be a memorable occasion.

Ricky Villa put Spurs in front early on, but Steve Mackenzie equalised within minutes. City took the lead four minutes into the second half through a Kevin Reeves penalty before Garth Crooks pulled Spurs level with 20 minutes left, setting the stage for arguably the best cup final goal.

Villa picked up the ball on the edge of the area and went on a mesmerising run into the box, beating several City defenders before coolly sliding the ball past goalkeeper Joe Corrigan.

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-3 CRYSTAL PALACE, 1990

SIR Alex Ferguson’s reign was on the line, and Palace came within minutes of bringing it to an end.

Ferguson needed a trophy to reassure the Old Trafford board and looked like getting it when United were 2-1 ahead with 20 minutes left.

But Ian Wright, who was playing with a painkilling injection in his leg after breaking it earlier in the season, came off the bench and turned the game around.

Wright equalised after being on the pitch for only three minutes to force extra time.

He struck again two minutes into the extra period, volleying home John Salako’s cross.

Ferguson’s job was hanging by a thread, but he was rescued by a Mark Hughes goal with seven minutes remaining.

The match finished 3-3. United went on to win the replay 1-0 with a rare goal from full-back Lee Martin and the rest is history.

LIVERPOOL 3-3 WEST HAM, 2006

STEVEN Gerrard rescued Liverpool with a spectacular strike in injury time to break West Ham hearts in a thrilling final which went all the way to penalties.

In the last FA Cup final held at the Millennium Stadium, West Ham led for most of the game, but the Liverpool captain fired in a 30-yard strike to level the scores at 3-3.

The Hammers went two goals ahead early on through Dean Ashton and a Jamie Carragher own goal.

Djibril Cisse pulled one back before half-time before Gerrard equalised after the break.

Paul Konchesky restored West Ham’s advantage and the Hammers looked set to win, but Gerrard had other ideas.

The sides could not be separated in extra-time and Liverpool went on to win the penalty shoot-out 3-1.