Ten of the biggest cup final defeats ever
Heart of Midlothian clinched their eighth Scottish Cup on Saturday with an emphatic 5-1 win over their Edinburgh rivals Hibernian. It was a terrible afternoon for the boys from Leith, but Pat Fenlon's men are not alone in being humiliated on their big day.
Here are the 10 of the biggest cup final defeats ever.
10. Manchester United 4 Chelsea 0 FA Cup Final 1994
The Blues may be celebrating becoming Champions League winners but back in 1994 they were humbled by the might of Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson's job at Old Trafford was saved in 1990 thanks to victory in the FA Cup. On this day he clinched his first league and cup double. Wembley was soaking but the travelling hoards from Manchester didn't care. Eric Cantona opened the scoring on the hour mark with a penalty. The Frenchman then converted again from the spot six minutes later before Mark Hughes capped a mad nine minutes with a third. Brian McClair made it four in the dying moments.
9. Celtic 4 Rangers 0 Scottish Cup Final 1969
There's nothing worse than losing to the Old Enemy, especially in the final in front of 132,000 fans, oh and getting well and truly tanned. Rangers were humiliated by the Bhoys. The Ibrox side had thrashed Aberdeen 6-1 in the semi-final and were confident of seeing off the former European Cup winners. However, Billy McNeill opened the scoring after just three minutes and it was 3-0 before half-time as Bobby Lennox and George Connelly got in on the act. Stevie Chalmers completed the rout. Celtic lost the cup the following season though to Aberdeen 3-1.
8. Rangers 5 Hearts 1 Scottish Cup Final 1996
Hearts may be celebrating winning the Scottish Cup today but they know how it feels to be in Hibs' shoes. In 1996 Hearts lost 5-1 to Rangers. Brian Laudrup put the Ibrox side ahead with a stunning finish to go into the break 1-0 up. Walter Smith's side though really turned up the gas in the second 45. Laudrup made it two five minutes in following a proper howler by Gilles Rousset and Gordon Durie hit the first of his hat-trick to make it three. John Colquhoun pulled one back before Durie scored twice to clinch his hat-trick and the Scottish Cup.
7. Hiberninan 5 Kilmarnock 1 League Cup Final 2007
Hampden Park has not always been a scene of horror for Hibs. In 2007 they took on Kilmarnock in the League Cup Final and gave Killie a right pasting. Hibs went through Kilmarnock like a hot knife through butter. Captain Rob Jones put the Hibees ahead and Benjelloun made it two with a smart finish before Steven Fletcher made it three. Gordon Greer pulled one back for Killie, but Hibs ended the game with two goals in two minutes from Benjelloun and Fletcher.
6. Aberdeen 4 Rangers 1 Scottish Cup Final 1982
It's that man Sir Alex again. This time when he ruled Scotland with Aberdeen. The Dons went behind after 15 minutes through John MacDonald. Aberdeen hit back though with defender Alex McLeish scoring a wonderful curling effort into the top corner. The game went to extra-time and the Pittodrie side upped their game. Mark McGhee scored three minutes in and Gordon Strachan made it three just before half-time. Neale Cooper secured the Dons' third Scottish Cup with a fourth.
5. Partick Thistle 4 Celtic 1 League Cup Final 1971
When Partick Thistle and Celtic clashed in the League Cup Final at Hampden Park in 1971 everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion. The Mighty Jags had little to no chance of overturning the Glasgow giants, but my word did Thistle give them a shock. Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Denis McQuade and Jimmy Bone put the Jags four up at half-time! Kenny Dalglish pulled one back in the second half but it was Thistle's day.
4. Hearts 5 Hibs 1 Scottish Cup Final 2012
Hibs rolled up at Hampden desperate to end more than 100 years of hurt in this competition. Instead Hearts piled more misery on their neighbours.
3. Brazil 5 Sweden 2 World Cup Final 1958
If there's one thing international teams have since discovered it's don't score against Brazil early, it's like poking a wasp's nest with a huge stick. There's only one outcome. . . you are going to be stung. A young Pele made his World Cup debut in this tournament and helped his country to their first World Cup success. However, it was the host nation who went ahead after just four minutes through their captain Nils Liedholm, but the Brazilians were level five minutes later through Vava, who scored again to put the South Americans 2-1 up at half-time. Pele made it three with a stunning strike before Mario Zagalla grabbed their fourth. Sweden pulled one back Agne Simonssen, but Pele had the last word. This game holds the record for the most goals in a World Cup Final game.
2. Real Madrid 7 Eintract Frankfurt 3 European Cup Final 1960
Regarded as one of the greatest football games ever, the Spanish giants picked up their fifth consecutive trophy by thrilling more than 135,000 fans at Glasgow's Hampden Park. The Germans thought they had a chance of an upset after beating Glasgow Rangers 12-4 over two legs, but Di Stefano and Puskas ran them ragged. It was the Germans who took the lead but Di Stefano put the Spanish side in front with two goals in three minutes. Puskas then got in on the act, scoring four in 26 minutes. Erwin Stein pulled one back before Di Stefano grabbed his hat-trick and Madrid's seventh. Stein bagged his second of the game but it wasn't enough. I think it's safe to say that this record will stand proud for an awfully long time.
1. Celtic 7 Rangers 1 League Cup Final 1958
Rangers didn't appear to have much luck against their city rivals in the 50s and 60s did they? Celtic thrashed the Gers 7-1 as Hampden basked in the sun. Sammy Wilson and Neil Mochan put the Bhoys two up at half-time, before really turning the screw in the second half. Billy McPhail made it three before Billy Simpson pulled one back. However, McPhail soon completed his hat-trick before Willie Fernie made it seven with a late penalty. This is the biggest final win in the Scottish League Cup.
If you know of any other huge cup shocks in the beautiful game that you think deserve to be mentioned, please get in touch through the feedback form below.
