AFTER defeating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals back in 1987, Coventry returned to Hillsborough for their first-ever semi-final against then Second Division side Leeds United.
Some 27,000 City supporters made the trip to Sheffield with the Sky Blues aiming to reach a first FA Cup final in the club’s history.
Managed by club legend Billy Bremner, Leeds made a bright start as Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic made a stunning early save to keep out John Pearson’s diving header.
However, the Whites took the lead on 14 minutes when David Rennie headed in a floated corner from the left at the near post to stun the Sky Blues.
And Ogrizovic made another superb stop soon after as he somehow pushed Brendon Ormsby’s powerful shot from eight-yards out behind for a corner.
At the other end, Coventry should have drawn level when Cyrille Regis burst into the box only to shoot wide when one-on-one.
And great trickery from Dave Bennett set up another chance for the striker as Regis scooped the ball over the bar at the back post from four-yards out.
Regis spurned another opening later in the first half as he stabbed the ball inches wide on the stretch before Keith Houchen blasted a shot the wrong side of the post.
However, Coventry eventually equalised on 68 minutes when substitute Micky Gynn found the left corner of the goal after Bennett’s tireless work down the right saw the winger keep the ball in play before squaring for Gynn who applied the finish.
The Sky Blues completed the turnaround on 78 minutes as Houchen rounded Mervyn Day in the Leeds goal before finishing into an empty net.
Coventry almost wrapped up the game when the ball broke kindly to Regis who burst into the box and went past Day only to fire into the side netting from a tight angle.
City were unable to hold onto their lead however, as Keith Edwards headed in from six-yards out with six minutes left to play to send the game to extra time.
However, Coventry reclaimed the lead eight minutes into the extra period when Bennett capped a fine performance with a goal from close range after Day kept out Houchen’s initial effort.
The Sky Blues had Ogrizovic to thank for securing their place in the final as the keeper bravely denied Edwards from point-blank range in the latter stages as George Curtis and John Sillett guided Coventry to a first-ever FA Cup final.
You can read about five memorable matches between Coventry and Manchester United HERE
To read about players and managers connected to both Coventry and Manchester United click HERE
