1997 Football League Cup final
The 1997 Football League Cup Final was played between Middlesbrough and Leicester City. The first game, at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 6 April 1997, ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time. Fabrizio Ravanelli opened the scoring only for Leicester's Emile Heskey to equalise in the last minute of extra time. Heskey was fortunate to be on the field, having committed what was a bookable foul on Boro captain Nigel Pearson after already being booked. Leicester won the replay, and their second League Cup, in the game played at Hillsborough Stadium on 16 April 1997 with another extra-time goal, this time from Steve Claridge.
This was the last year that the Football League Cup Final was decided by a replay.
Road to Wembley
Leicester City
Round 2, 1st leg: Scarborough 0–2 Leicester CityRound 2, 2nd leg: Leicester City 2–1 Scarborough
Round 3: York City 0–2 Leicester City
Round 4: Leicester City 2–0 Manchester United
Quarter-final: Ipswich Town 0–1 Leicester City
Semi-final, 1st leg: Leicester City 0–0 Wimbledon
Semi-final, 2nd leg: Wimbledon 1–1 Leicester City ''''
Middlesbrough
Round 2, 1st leg: Middlesbrough 7–0 Hereford UnitedRound 2, 2nd leg: Hereford United 0–3 Middlesbrough
Round 3: Middlesbrough 5–1 Huddersfield Town
Round 4: Middlesbrough 3–1 Newcastle United
Quarter-final: Middlesbrough 2–1 Liverpool
Semi-final, 1st leg: Stockport County 0–2 Middlesbrough
Semi-final, 2nd leg: Middlesbrough 0–1 Stockport County