2003-04 FA Cup · The Final
2004 FA Cup Final: Manchester United 3-0 Millwall
This page exists because the contemporary record of this final disagrees with itself: the BBC's own coverage times its decisive penalty two ways, names two different men as the previous youngest-finalist record holder, and picked a different man of the match from the official award, and those disagreements are documented here rather than tidied away.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced himself on the cup-final stage and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice as Manchester United beat Millwall 3-0 in Cardiff, on an afternoon when even the BBC's own accounts could not agree on what happened when.
Saturday 22 May 2004 · Millennium Stadium
What you will not find elsewhere
The BBC published three accounts of this final on the same day, and they disagree with each other
The BBC covered this final with a match report, a minute-by-minute clockwatch and a key-moments box, all published on 22 May 2004, and no two of them quite line up. The penalty that made it 2-0 is logged at 64 minutes by the clockwatch and the key-moments box, but described as arriving in the 65th minute by the match report's own prose. The first chance of the game is a Van Nistelrooy header from a Paul Scholes cross in the clockwatch, but from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross in the match report. Andy Marshall's tip-over from Roy Keane is timed at 21 minutes in the clockwatch and at 23 in the key-moments box. Curtis Weston's record-breaking entrance is logged at 88 minutes against the 89 of the modern line-up tables, and Dennis Wise's booking at 48 against the 49 recorded by 11v11. Where the timings differ we publish the majority figure and keep the minority one beside it on the page, because a resource worth linking to shows its working.[1][2][11]
Whose record did Curtis Weston break? The coverage on the day and the modern record name different men
Every account agrees on the new mark: Curtis Weston was 17 years and 119 days old when he came on. What they do not agree on is whose record fell. The BBC's clockwatch and its post-match report, both published on the day, state that Weston beat the mark set by Paul Allen, who played for West Ham against Arsenal in the 1980 final. Modern reference works, including the standard encyclopedia article on this final, say the previous holder was James F. M. Prinsep of Clapham Rovers, from the 1879 final, at 17 years and 245 days. Those cannot both be the standing record, since only one man can have held it. We record Weston's age as settled and the identity of his predecessor as unresolved.[2][3][10]
The official man of the match was not the man of the match the press saw
The man-of-the-match award recorded in the reference books went to Ruud van Nistelrooy, selected by England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who presented the trophy. Both contemporary newspaper verdicts disagreed. The BBC's player ratings named Cristiano Ronaldo the game's outstanding footballer, and Kevin McCarra's Guardian report carried the verdict Man of the Match - Cristiano Ronaldo, calling the award to Van Nistelrooy a choice it should not have been. Ferguson's own forecast after the match strengthens that contemporary verdict: We need to look after him in the right way because he is going to be an outstanding footballer. We publish the official award as the fact of record and the press disagreement alongside it, rather than silently choosing one.[2][9][4][10]
Millwall reached the final without meeting a Premier League club
Read tie by tie, Millwall's run to Cardiff contained no top-flight opponent at all: Walsall, Telford United of the Conference, Burnley, Tranmere Rovers twice, and Sunderland in the semi-final. That made them the first club from outside the Premier League to reach the final since the Premier League was founded in 1992. The run had an odd financial coda as well: their UEFA Cup place was settled not in Cardiff but on a Monday night in April, when Charlton's win at Liverpool guaranteed Manchester United could finish no lower than fourth, six weeks before the final was played.[10][7]
The footage
The match report
Manchester United won the FA Cup for a record-extending 11th time on Saturday 22 May 2004, beating First Division Millwall 3-0 in front of 71,350 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It was the 123rd final of the competition and the fourth in succession staged in the Welsh capital while Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt. For Millwall it was a first appearance in a final of either the FA Cup or the Football League Cup; for United it was a 16th FA Cup final, of which they had won ten.[1][11][10]
The pairing had no business being even. United had finished third in the Premier League; Millwall had finished tenth in the First Division and had reached Cardiff without meeting a single Premier League opponent, beating Walsall, Telford United, Burnley, Tranmere Rovers in a replay and Sunderland in the semi-final at Old Trafford. Millwall's build-up was dominated by fitness doubts. Player-manager Dennis Wise and Paul Ifill recovered in time, but captain Kevin Muscat was ruled out, striker Danny Dichio was suspended, and it was Muscat and the injured Tony Warner who led the team out for the national anthem.[10][2][7]
United made the running from the start. Van Nistelrooy headed narrowly wide inside four minutes, Ronaldo teased left-back Robbie Ryan at will, and Andy Marshall produced the save of the half to tip Roy Keane's fizzing volley over the bar. Millwall's only first-half opening came when Ifill broke down the right and had his shot blocked. Three minutes before the interval Ronaldo wriggled free and shot, only for Marshall and Darren Ward to scramble the ball off the line. The resistance broke a minute before half-time: United moved the ball from left to right, Gary Neville crossed to the far post, Wise waited for a ball that never reached him, and Ronaldo stole in to head home.[1][2][9]
Wise, Millwall's 37-year-old player-manager, was fortunate to reach the interval without a booking after repeatedly tangling with Paul Scholes, and his name was in Jeff Winter's book three minutes after the restart for following through on Ryan Giggs. Millwall did not fold. When Mikael Silvestre met United's tenth corner with a firm header, it was Wise who headed it off the line.[2][1][9]
The decisive goal arrived on 65 minutes. Giggs switched to the right wing, set off on a jinking run into the box and was brought down by David Livermore, and Van Nistelrooy smashed the penalty into the top corner. The timing of that goal is one this page declines to tidy up: the BBC's clockwatch and its key-moments box both recorded it at 64 minutes, while the BBC's own report prose, the Guardian and the standard records say 65. We publish 65 and keep the 64 on the page.[9][1][2][10]
On 81 minutes Giggs burst free down the left and rifled the ball across the box for Van Nistelrooy to slide in his second. Wise afterwards called the penalty into question and insisted the third was offside; the Guardian's report noted that some television angles suggested the striker's feet were legitimately placed, and no linesman flagged. With the game won, Ferguson sent on Roy Carroll, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nicky Butt on 84 minutes, giving as many of his squad as possible a taste of the occasion.[2][3][9]
The final's last act belonged to Millwall. On 89 minutes Curtis Weston, aged 17 years and 119 days, replaced his own manager and became the youngest player ever to appear in an FA Cup final. Even that record is contested in its detail: the BBC's coverage on the day reported that he had beaten the mark set by Paul Allen in the 1980 final, while modern reference works say the previous holder was James Prinsep of Clapham Rovers, who played in the 1879 final.[11][2][3][10]
At the presentation, England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson handed United the trophy and named Van Nistelrooy man of the match, a verdict neither contemporary newspaper shared: the BBC's player ratings and the Guardian's report both named Ronaldo. The United squad collected their medals wearing shirts bearing the name and number 36 of Jimmy Davis, the young midfielder killed in a road accident the previous August, in a tribute instigated by Keane. It was the 17th trophy of Ferguson's reign and his fifth FA Cup; he never won another. Millwall, beaten but unbowed, already knew their consolation: because United were bound for the Champions League, the Lions would play in the UEFA Cup, a place ratified six weeks before the final was even played.[4][5][9][7][10]
How the match unfolded
- 4'The first chance falls to Manchester United as Ruud van Nistelrooy heads narrowly wide. The BBC's clockwatch credits Paul Scholes with the cross; the BBC's own match report credits Cristiano Ronaldo.[2][1]
- 8'Ronaldo, wearing gold boots, crosses from the right and Scholes fails to connect.[2]
- 17'Ronaldo dances through the Millwall midfield and is brought down, with Dennis Wise appearing to push him over as players from both sides get involved. Jeff Winter calms it, and Ronaldo rifles the resulting free-kick just wide.[2]
- 21'Roy Keane flicks the ball up and hits a long-range volley that Andy Marshall brilliantly tips over the bar. The BBC match report's key-moments box times this at 23 minutes.[2][1]
- 33'A fan runs onto the pitch and is escorted away while play continues.[2]
- 41'Ronaldo wriggles free and shoots, only for Marshall and Darren Ward to scramble the ball off the goalline.[2][1]
- 44'Goal. United work the ball patiently to the right, Gary Neville crosses to the far post and Ronaldo heads past Marshall. Wise waits for the ball and lets Ronaldo steal in front of him.[2][1][9]
- 45'In stoppage time Wise and Scholes tangle repeatedly in the penalty area as United prepare to take a free-kick. Winter opts for a cautionary word.[2][1]
- 46'Darren Fletcher weaves through the Millwall defence straight from the restart and almost scores.[2]
- 48'Wise is booked for following through on Ryan Giggs. The 11v11 record times the caution at 49 minutes.[2][11]
- 52'Marshall dives to his left to keep out a Scholes shot.[2]
- 60'Mikael Silvestre heads a corner goalwards and Wise heads it off the line. Wes Brown, following up, connects with a flying boot and is left with a cut head.[2][1]
- 65'Goal. David Livermore halts a jinking Giggs run in the box and Winter awards a penalty. Ruud van Nistelrooy smashes it into the top corner. The BBC's own clockwatch and key-moments box both log this at 64 minutes.[1][9][10][2]
- 74'Millwall send on forwards Barry Cogan and Mark McCammon. Modern records split the changes at 74 and 75 minutes; the BBC's clockwatch logged them together at 74.[2][11]
- 81'Goal. Giggs bursts free down the left and rifles the ball across the box for Van Nistelrooy to slide home his second. There is a hint of offside, but the goal stands.[2][9][10]
- 84'With the game won, Ferguson makes a triple substitution: Roy Carroll, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nicky Butt replace Tim Howard, Ronaldo and Fletcher.[2][1]
- 89'Curtis Weston replaces his own manager, Wise, and becomes the youngest player ever to appear in an FA Cup final. The BBC's clockwatch logs the change at 88 minutes.[2][11][10]
- 90'Full time. Keane tracks back to block Paul Ifill in the box in stoppage time, preserving the clean sheet, and Manchester United are FA Cup winners again.[2]
Match facts
Where they played
Both sides as they lined up. Choose any player to read what they did in this final.
Select a shirt for that player's note.
Route to the final
Manchester United
- Third round: Aston Villa (a) won 2-1
- Fourth round: Northampton Town (a) won 3-0
- Fifth round: Manchester City (h) won 4-2
- Quarter-final: Fulham (h) won 2-1
- Semi-final: Arsenal (Villa Park) won 1-0
Millwall
- Third round: Walsall (h) won 2-1
- Fourth round: Telford United (a) won 2-0
- Fifth round: Burnley (h) won 1-0
- Quarter-final: Tranmere Rovers (h) drew 0-0
- Quarter-final replay: Tranmere Rovers (a) won 2-1
- Semi-final: Sunderland (Old Trafford) won 1-0
Line-ups
Manchester United · 4-4-2
- Tim Howard Goalkeeper. Substituted late on so Roy Carroll could share in the win
- Gary Neville Right back. His far-post cross set up Ronaldo's opening goal
- Wes Brown Centre back. Left with a cut head following up a second-half corner
- Mikael Silvestre Centre back. Had a header cleared off the line by Wise
- John O'Shea Left back
- Cristiano Ronaldo Right midfield. Scored the opener and was the game's outstanding player, in gold boots
- Darren Fletcher Central midfield. A surprise selection ahead of Nicky Butt and Phil Neville
- Roy Keane Captain. A post-war record sixth FA Cup final appearance
- Ryan Giggs Left midfield. Won the penalty and crossed for the third goal
- Paul Scholes Supported Van Nistelrooy from midfield. Failed to connect with Ronaldo's early rabona cross
- Ruud van Nistelrooy Centre forward. Scored twice, the first from the penalty spot, and was named man of the match
Millwall · 4-4-1-1
- Andy Marshall Goalkeeper. Tipped Keane's volley over the bar and saved from Scholes
- Marvin Elliott Right back
- Matthew Lawrence Centre back and captain, with Kevin Muscat injured
- Darren Ward Centre back. Scrambled a Ronaldo shot off the line just before half-time
- Robbie Ryan Left back. Bore the brunt of Ronaldo's skills before being substituted
- Paul Ifill Right midfield. Made Millwall's best first-half opening, his shot blocked
- Dennis Wise Player-manager in central midfield. Booked, and left Ronaldo free for the opening goal
- David Livermore Central midfield. Conceded the penalty with a foul on Giggs
- Peter Sweeney Left midfield
- Tim Cahill Behind the striker. His last Millwall match before joining Everton
- Neil Harris Lone striker in a conservative line-up
Trivia and detail
- Referee Jeff Winter was taking charge of his first FA Cup final in his final match as a professional referee, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 45. He told the BBC beforehand: refereeing an FA Cup final was something he had always had as a pipe dream.[6][2]
- Dennis Wise had won the FA Cup three times as a player before managing Millwall in this final, and was still not fully qualified as a coach: he told the BBC in April that he was doing his B badge at the time.[2][8]
- Roy Keane's appearance set a post-war record of six FA Cup final appearances by one player.[4]
- Ruud van Nistelrooy had missed his previous one or two penalties that season, which is why he said he took the final's spot-kick with full power.[4]
- The final was Nicky Butt's last match for Manchester United before joining Newcastle United, and Tim Cahill's last for Millwall before joining Everton. Both moved in July 2004.[10]
- Millwall's UEFA Cup place was confirmed six weeks before the final, when Charlton Athletic's win at Liverpool on a Monday night made it impossible for Manchester United to finish outside the Premier League's top four.[7]
- Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis said the cup run had boosted the club's coffers by 2.5 million pounds, and that he had promised to streak around London if the club reached Europe, telling the players who tried to renegotiate: a bet's a bet.[8]
- Cristiano Ronaldo played the final in a pair of gold boots.[1][2]
How well do you know the 2004 final?
Five questions. Every answer is sourced from the material on this page.
-
Who scored the opening goal of the 2004 FA Cup final?
-
What record did Curtis Weston set when he came on late in the final?
-
Which Millwall player conceded the penalty for Manchester United's second goal?
-
Why was the 2004 final Jeff Winter's last match as a referee?
-
Whose name and number did the Manchester United players wear on their shirts at the trophy presentation?
Answer
Jimmy Davis. The squad changed into shirts bearing Davis's name and number 36. The young midfielder had been killed in a road accident the previous August, and Roy Keane instigated the tribute.[5]
What is not settled
Honesty matters more than tidiness. These details are contested or unrecorded, and we have not guessed at them:
- The minute of the penalty is genuinely contested. The BBC's own clockwatch and its key-moments box both say 64; the BBC's report prose, the Guardian and the standard records say 65. We publish 65 and keep 64 on the page.
- The first chance of the match is credited to a Paul Scholes cross by the BBC's clockwatch and to a Cristiano Ronaldo cross by the BBC's own match report. Both accounts come from the same day and the same broadcaster.
- Andy Marshall's tip-over from Roy Keane is timed at 21 minutes by the BBC clockwatch and at 23 by the BBC's key-moments box.
- Curtis Weston's record-breaking entrance is logged at 88 minutes by the BBC clockwatch and at 89 by the modern line-up tables.
- The identity of the previous youngest-finalist record holder is unresolved. The BBC's contemporary coverage names Paul Allen (West Ham, 1980); modern reference works name James F. M. Prinsep (Clapham Rovers, 1879). Only one of them can have held the record when Weston broke it.
- Wise's booking is timed at 48 minutes by the BBC clockwatch and at 49 by the 11v11 record.
- The third goal was claimed offside by Dennis Wise afterwards. The Guardian reported that some television angles suggested Van Nistelrooy's feet were onside; there was no video review in 2004, so the claim stands as contested rather than settled.
- The BBC's clockwatch lists the referee as J Winter of Cleveland; the standard reference article gives Jeff Winter of North Yorkshire, from Middlesbrough. The man is not in doubt; his county FA is recorded differently by the two.
- Attendance is the weakest number on the page. No governing-body or club document we could reach prints one; 71,350 is carried by the BBC's contemporary coverage and the 11v11 match record.
- No footage has been verified for this final yet, so the television shows no signal rather than an unchecked embed.
How we know
Every claim on this page is tied to a numbered source below. These are the contemporary records behind it, each one fetched and matched word for word before publication rather than taken on trust:
- BBC Sport match report, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport minute-by-minute coverage, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport post-match reaction, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport post-match reaction, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport referee profile by Stuart Roach, 22 May 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport, 12 April 2004 · BBC Sport
- BBC Sport, 5 April 2004 · BBC Sport
- Kevin McCarra's match report, 24 May 2004 · The Guardian
Where a primary record and a modern account disagree, we show both rather than choosing the tidier number.
Sources
- Man Utd 3-0 Millwall · BBC Sport
- FA Cup final clockwatch · BBC Sport
- Wise positive in defeat · BBC Sport
- Neville hails Ronaldo · BBC Sport
- Players remember Davis · BBC Sport
- Winter in wonderland · BBC Sport
- Lions confirmed in Uefa Cup · BBC Sport
- Millwall count Cup cash · BBC Sport
- United triumph by taking the job seriously · The Guardian
- 2004 FA Cup final · Wikipedia
- Manchester United v Millwall, 22 May 2004 · 11v11