Tottenham may have one foot in the Europa League final – but fans with good memories will remember how wrong things can quickly go.
Spurs are 3-1 up on aggregate heading into their second leg tie against Bodo/Glimt – live on talkSPORT 2 – and are looking for just their seventh cup final since one went awry in bizarre circumstances 30 years ago.
We hear plenty about how the north London side haven’t won a trophy since 2008, but rarely do we speak about their bad luck before that.
Yet in the FA Cup in the 1994/95 season, a substitution remembered as one of the strangest of all time left many fans thinking they were cursed.
Spurs hosted Everton at White Hart Lane with a shot at Wembley just around the corner.
The hosts were competing for Europe while the visitors were fighting relegation, and in the home line up was Jurgen Klinsmann, who was almost guaranteed of a goal.
From the off it was Everton who took the impetus, though, with Matt Jackson scoring ten minutes before half-time and Graham Stuart scoring ten minutes after it to leave the hosts reeling.
Then came the usual Klinsmann goal, one his 29 strikes that campaign, and it looked like the tie was back on – only for the German marksman to be upstaged in the most bizarre of circumstances.
Everton’s first choice striker Paul Rideout went down injured in the 71st minute, and up popped the much maligned £3million summer signing Daniel Amokachi to take his place.
However, as it instantly became clear, Toffees manager Joe Royle hadn’t sanctioned his entrance, with the Nigerian slipping through to the fourth official who allowed him to enter the pitch.
Amokachi recalled: “Rideout got a knock and went down, and if you play the same position you jump off your feet and start warming up and getting ready.
“He got up but went down again. Everybody knew I was in very good shape and ready to go.
Amokachi snuck past and tricked Everton’s assistant boss and the fourth officialBBC He looked back realising he’d just made it past RoyleBBC“I just went to Willie [Donachie, assistant manager] and I told him, ‘The gaffer says you need me on.’”
Donachie and the fourth official quickly realised they’d been fooled, with Royle ranting and raving, unable to do anything about Amokachi’s self-substitution.
“When you look back at the clip, you can see how furious Joe Royle was,” the striker remembered.
“He ran to the touchline, [saying] ‘What are you guys doing?’ I looked back at him – we had done it already. If you pull me back, we’ll play with one less anyway.”
Then two moments that will live in FA Cup folklore came as Amokachi ended Spurs’ fightback with a far-post header and then another tap in to make it 4-1.
Recalling the scenes, Amokachi said: “Ten minutes later – bang. And then another goal – bang – and Everton were in the final.
“Legendary moments like that keep your name in the limelight.
“It was meant to be, because if I didn’t score then it would probably have been my last game for Everton.”
Royle soon saw the funny side, and told the media post-match: “It was the greatest substitution I never made.”
Yet back in the dressing room, he was sure to issue a stern warning.
“It was the gaffer that went to the press conference and told the whole world about it,” the Man of the Match explained.
“Then he came into the locker room and hugged me, gave me his hand and said, ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.'”
Royle instantly forgave his strikerGettyIn the final, Amokachi didn’t have to try his trick again, with Rideout scoring the opener against Manchester United on the half-hour mark.
Amokachi made his way on in the 69th minute, but the game was done, and Everton were champions.
“Beating the mighty Manchester United in the final, nobody saw it coming,” the first Nigerian to win the FA Cup said.
“And we did it because of that character that Joe Royle brought into the team. It is a day I will never forget.”
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