Archive > 2001 > Issue 6

Re-Mark-able

Football can be a cruel sport and this year’s FA Cup final was no exception. With ten minutes left, it looked as if Andrew Bunday was home and dry.

But Liverpool’s super comeback to win 2-1 meant Mark Pollatos leapfrogged Andrew with a maximum 20 points to become Fantasy FA Cup Champion 2001.

Mark’s total score of 120 points was a new record score, beating David Allen’s tally of 114 in 1999.

The top EIGHT entrants predicted the score correctly, relegating unlucky Bunday to ninth place.

It was good news for Steve Dalton who finished as runner-up, as well as staff rivals Mr Marston and Mr Hopkins, who finished third and fourth.

Rachel Pennell was the highest-placed girl, in fifth, while further down the table, 20 points were enough to lift both Nicola Edwards and Sarah Hawkes 13 places.

Apsey-lute rubbish

Mr Apsey has been awarded the official wooden spoon for 2001. He was only kept off the bottom spot by entrants who had missed one or more rounds.

His run of appalling performances ended in a rare success as he predicted Liverpool to win, although his score prediction was not unsurprisingly wide of the mark.

His 10 points were at least sufficient to avoid becoming the worst-scoring player of all time, an ‘honour’ currently held by Andrew Bunday in 1998.

Liverpool owe it to Owen

Liverpool 2
Arsenal 1

Michael Owen produced an inspired late performance to shatter the hopes of Arsenal, as Liverpool came back from behind to win the 2001 FA Cup Final by two goals to one.

It was a hard-fought match, far removed from the dull spectacles of the past few years. The early play was well-balanced, though there were few clear chances.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Ljungberg released Henry, who niftily skipped around Liverpool goalie Westerveld but was denied on the line by what action replays showed was clearly the arm of Henchoz.

As time wore on, with the game still goalless, the sweltering temperatures inside Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium began to take their toll on the players.

The second half brought a spate of chances. Henry juggled the ball past Westerveld, leaving Ashley Cole with what looked like an easy chance, but Hyypia was there to clear it off the line.

It was Hyypia to the rescue again on 67 minutes when he had to head out a Ljungberg lob. Arsenal finally made the breakthrough with 19 minutes left on the clock, Ljungberg hitting home after a poor defensive clearance.

Liverpool were stung into action, and two substitutions brought Fowler and Berger into the fray.

Liverpool gained a foothold when Arsenal failed to deal with McAllister’s free-kick and Owen pounced from eight yards.

With Arsenal still shell-shocked, Berger released Owen, who sent a stunning shot beyond Seaman into the corner of the net.

Liverpool complete a domestic Cup double and are on course for an unprecedented Cup treble if they win the UEFA Cup. What a season!