Chelsea won the FA Cup against Leeds United in the first final that needed a replay to decide the winner. The Wembley final was earlier than usual owing to the World Cup Finals in Mexico and the game played in heavy conditions on April 11th 1970 ended in a 2-2 draw after extra-time.  The replay 18 days later was the first final played away from Wembley.

The FA Cup history is littered with classic encounters and this one was a case of the stylish Londoners managed by Dave Sexton  against the hard-edged but highly-skilful Yorkshiremen under the management of the legendary Don Revie.  Both sides had good seasons finishing just behind Everton in the League.  Leeds scored more goals than any other team and went into the match full of confidence and probably had the upper hand for large periods of the match.  At the 20-minute mark Leeds gained the advantage when from a corner-kick, Chelsea’s Eddie McCreadie failed to clear a header from Jack Charlton that skidded through the mud between his legs and into the goal.

Chelsea were back on even terms just before half-time when Peter Houseman’s low drive was only partly saved by Gary Sprake in the Leeds goal.  The second half was pretty dour but Leeds thought they’d won it when Allan Clarke combined with Mick Jones for their second goal with just 6 minutes to play.  Clarke’s header rebounded off the post and Jones was first to react.  But Chelsea’s Ian Hutchinson replied with a goal of his own just 2 minutes later when he latched onto a great cross from John Hollins.  With no more scoring the match ended at 2-2 and a replay was required.

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The replay was to become one of the most infamous cup finals.  Not for the purist who appreciated skill and flair, this match played at Manchester United’s home ground Old Trafford on 29th April was a bruising affair which should have had several players dismissed for foul play.  Rough and late tackles, punch-ups and off the ball incidents kept the temperature up until Leeds striker Mick Jones scored the opening goal in the 35th minute following excellent lead-up work from Allan Clarke.  Chelsea were dominated for most of the match but in the 78th minute their charismatic forward Peter Osgood equalised when he met winger Charlie Cooke’s cross with a diving header past David Harvey in the Leeds goal.  This continued Osgood’s fantastic record of scoring in all rounds of the FA Cup in 1970. 

The match again ended in a stalemate and went into extra-time.  Chelsea’s David Webb provided the winner in the 104th minute following a massive Ian Hutchinson throw-in from the left side that rebounded off Jack Charlton’s head toward his own goal where Webb climbed above two defenders on the right post to secure Chelsea’s first-ever FA Cup win.

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