Lions wise enough

FA Cup Semi-Final
Old Trafford
4 April 2004

Tim Cahill was the goalscoring hero as Dennis Wise’s Millwall beat Sunderland 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to earn an FA Cup Final appearance against Manchester United on May 22.

Dennis Wise will lead Millwall into their first ever FA Cup Final against Manchester United.

Tim Cahill’s first-half strike was enough to give The Lions victory in a breathtaking encounter against Sunderland.

Millwall had to overcome injuries to two key players in the first half and a barrage of Sunderland pressure in the closing stages to book their place at The Millennium Stadium.

They are the first team from outside the top flight to reach the FA Cup Final in the Premiership era and will hope to emulate West Ham’s 1980 success – the last time a second-tier side has won the trophy.

Cahill reacted quickest when Paul Ifill’s shot was blocked by Mart Poom after 25 minutes.

Injuries to Ifill and then Kevin Muscat forced the Londoners into major adjustments.

But they held on heroically with George McCartney and Matt Piper both going desperately close in the final few minutes.

Sunderland tried everything to emulate their cup final teams of 1973 and 1992 but finished with only 10 men – Jason McAteer was sent off after 86 minutes.

Millwall though are guaranteed European football whatever the result the final on May 22 with United likely to qualify for the Champions League.

Millwall player-manager Dennis Wise picked himself to start and a crunching tackle on Kevin Kyle after only 17 seconds set the tone for his young Lions.

They survived a major scare after five minutes when John Oster curled a free-kick against the underside of the crossbar and showed enough youthful verve to record a third win against Sunderland this season.

The decisive moment arrived after 25 minutes.

Ifill was the instigator, leaving a trail of Sunderland defenders in his wake with a thrilling run. His final shot was blocked by Poom’s legs but Tim Cahill had the composure to latch onto the rebound and joyfully fire home from eight yards.

That ultimately proved enough – but it wasn’t as simple as that. Ifill was carried off a couple of minutes after the goal after stretching awkwardly for the ball, and replaced by 19-year-old Peter Sweeney.

Then, Kevin Muscat – who had already been flattened once by Jason McAteer – had to go off after being poleaxed by Sunderland skipper George McCartney in the 39th minute.

The six minutes of injury-time signalled by Paul Durkin at the end of the first half signified the competitive nature of the game.

And Sunderland, who lost their legendary manager Bob Stokoe earlier this year, fought desperately hard in the second half.

Kevin Kyle was denied by the fingertips of Andy Marshall and Julio Arca stamped the turf in frustration after blazing over from six yards.

Winger Matt Piper came on for defender Phil Babb as Sunderland threw caution to the wind and McCartney somehow shot beyond the far post when set up by Arca eight yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat.

McAteer, already booked for his foul on Muscat, was sent off for tugging back Danny Dichio with only four minutes left.

There was still time for Piper to force Marshall into another full-length save but nobody could deny Millwall.

They are in the FA Cup Final and Wise – who has already won the trophy three times with Wimbledon and Chelsea – now has the chance to pull off the biggest shock of his long career.

Sunderland
Poom, McCartney, Babb (Piper, 78), Breen, Wright (Thornton, 90), Arca, Thirlwell, McAteer, Oster, Kyle (Stewart, 61), Tommy Smith.
Subs not used: Williams, Myhre.