1968 Football League Cup final
The 1968 Football League Cup Final took place on 2 March 1968 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eighth final and the second to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United.
Terry Cooper scored the only goal of the game, hammering home a long-range goal after 20 minutes. After that, Leeds shut up shop and a defensive performance saw them out for the rest of the match.
It was the first major trophy of Don Revie's reign at Elland Road and started the most successful period in the club's history. Arsenal reached the League Cup Final again the following year, only to lose again, but went on to win both domestic and European trophies in the following seasons.
Match summary
The matchday at Wembley was dull and overcast. In front of a crowd of 97,887, Leeds named a side which included several players with injury doubts, including Jack Charlton and Johnny Giles, both of whom made the starting eleven. Arsenal named their strongest side which included Frank McLintock and George Graham.The match began with attacks from Leeds United, cleanly dealt with by Arsenal. Both teams played a long-ball game. For the first eighteen minutes, neither team could find a breakthrough. However, on a Leeds United corner, Eddie Gray placed the ball in the center of the box. Arsenal goalkeeper Jim Furnell had two players to contend with. The ball bounced out to the left side of the penalty area where Terry Cooper volleyed the ball in. Arsenal players protested that two of Leeds tallest players had impeded Furnell. Arsenal manager Bertie Mee later described the Leeds players' actions as "basketball." However, the goal stood, and Leeds went up 1-0.
Arsenal attacked the rest of the match, enjoying more possession than the leading side. However, they were unable to break through. Leeds had several more opportunities on the counterattack but also failed to convert. Leeds defense held, registering their fifth clean sheet in nine matches and the first major trophy of Don Revie's managerial career at Leeds. It was also the first major cup final for Arsenal under Bertie Mee.
Match facts
| Leeds United White shirts/White shorts and socks | 1-0 | Arsenal Red shirts with White arms/White shorts/Red socks |
Manager:  Route to the final''Home teams listed first.''Leeds UnitedRound 2: Leeds United 3–1 Luton TownRound 3: Leeds United 3–0 Bury Round 4: Sunderland 0–2 Leeds United Round 5: Leeds United 2–0 Stoke City '''Semi-final:''' ArsenalRound 2: Coventry City 1–2 ArsenalRound 3: Arsenal 1–0 Reading Round 4: Arsenal 2–1 Blackburn Rovers Round 5: Burnley 3–3 Arsenal '''Semi-final:''' |