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Following the closure of the old Wembley Stadium in October 2000, that season's Worthington Cup final, between Liverpool and Birmingham City was thew first of what is going to ne five years worth of English finals hosted by the Welsh Capital. Liverpool won the League cup that year, 5-4 on penalties after an initial 1-1 draw before Southend nearly made it for the second game, but having lost out on aggregate to Brentford in the Area Final of the LDV Vans Trophy, it was the Bees who took on Port Vale, but lost 1-2 in an all second division clash.
The first FA Cup held at the Stadium, and indeed the first to he held outside England, saw Liverpool make a triumphant retrurn, with two goals from Michael Owen sealing a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.
Liverpool have played five, and won four, at the Millennium Stadium whilst Arsenal have visited Cardiff four times, winning on three occassions, and Manchester United three times, but have yet to win. Sunday's match will also see Blackpool visit the Stadium for the third time, their previous two visits have yielded eight goals and two victories; a 4-2 Division Three play-off victory over Leyton Orient in 2001 and a 4-1 LDV Final romp over Cambridge United a year later.
Other than Orient and Cambridge, other current Third Division sides to have run out in Cardiff include Cheltenham Town, Carlisle United and Lincoln City, however should the Shrimpers grab a victory they will be the only current Third Division side to have done so.
The Little Gazette has thus far reported just once from the Millennium Stadium, with Cheltenham Town geating Rushden & Diamonds 3-1 in the 2001-02 Fivision Three play-off final. Needless to say TLg will be doubling their account on Sunday.
Detailed below is a full recrd of English Domestic Matches played at the Millennium Stadium:-
2000-01
Match 1 - Worthington Cup - Liverpool 1, Birmingham City 1 (aet,
Liverpool won 5-4 on pens)
Match 2 - LDV Vans Trophy - Port Vale 2, Brentford 1
Match 3 - FA Cup - Arsenal 1, Liverpool 2
Match 4 - Division Three - Blackpool 4, Leyton Orient 2
Match 5 - Division Two - Reading 2, Walsall 3 (aet)
Match 6 - Division One - Bolton Wanderers 3, Preston North End 0
2001-02
Match 7 - Chaity Shield - Manchester United 1, Liverpool 2
Match 8 - Worthington Cup - Blackburn Rovers 2, Tottenham
Hotspur 1
Match 9 - LDV Vans Trophy - Blackpool 4, Cambridge United 1
Match 10 - FA Cup - Arsenal 2, Chelsea 0
Match 11 - Division Three - Cheltenham Town 3, Rushden &
Diamonds 1
Match 12 - Division Two - Brentford 0, Stoke City 2
Match 13 - Division One - Birmingham City 1, Norwich City 1 (aet, Birmingham won 4-2 on pens)
2002-03
Match 14 - Community Shield - Arsenal 1, Liverpool 0
Match 15 - Worthington Cup - Liverpool 2, Manchester United 0
Match 16 - LDV Vans Trophy - Bristol City 2, Carlisle United 0
Match 17 - FA Cup - Arsenal 1, Southampton 0
Match 18 - Division Three - Bournemouth 5, Lincoln City 2
Match 19 - Division Two - Cardiff City 1, Queens Park Rangers 0
Match 20 - Division One - Sheffield United 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3
2003-04
Match 21 - Community Shield - Arsenal 1, Manchester United 1
Match 22 - Carling Cup - Middlesbrough 2, Bolton Wanderers 1
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com