 Tribute to the cup final in Motherwell. | |||||||
| Event | 1990–91 Scottish Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| (after extra time) | |||||||
| Date | 18 May 1991 | ||||||
| Venue | Hampden Park, Glasgow | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Dave Bowman | ||||||
| Referee | David Syme | ||||||
| Attendance | 57,319 | ||||||
The 1991 Scottish Cup Final was the 106th final of the Scottish Cup, Scottish football's most prestigious knockout association football competition. The match took place at Hampden Park on 18 May 1991 and was contested by Scottish Premier Division clubs Motherwell and Dundee United. It was both Motherwell's and Dundee United's 6th Scottish Cup Final and also the first time the clubs had met in a Scottish Cup Final. The match was dubbed the "family final", as the manager of both clubs were brothers, Tommy McLean and Jim McLean.[1]
As Scottish Premier Division clubs, Motherwell and United both entered the competition in the third round. Neither club won all four of their ties at the first attempt, Dundee United requiring a replay to knock out Division Two club East Fife in the third round. United went on to defeat Division One clubs Airdrieonians and archrivals Dundee before eliminating Tayside derby rivals St Johnstone in the semi-finals. After winning against defending champions Aberdeen in the third round, Motherwell defeated Division One clubs Falkirk and Greenock Morton then the previous seasons runners-up, Celtic, in a replayed semi-final.
The match was both clubs' 6th appearance in the final. However, it was Motherwell's first appearance in 39 years whilst Dundee United had reached the final only three seasons beforehand. Motherwell had previously won only one final whilst Dundee United had lost on all previous final appearances.
Motherwell won the match 4–3 after extra time was played.[2] They took the lead when Iain Ferguson headed in just after 30 minutes had been played. In the second half, Dundee United equalized through Dave Bowman. Motherwell went back in front thanks to 18-year-old Phil O'Donnell and their lead was then extended to 3-1 by Ian Angus. However, two goals from United, one from John O'Neil and a last minute equaliser from Darren Jackson made the score 3–3, forcing the match into extra-time. Substitute Stevie Kirk scored a header in the first half of extra-time to conclude victory for Motherwell.[3]
- ^ "Great Scottish Cup moments". BBC Sport. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Scottish Cup Final Archive". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "Motherwell's class of '91: A rare moment in the sun". These Football Times. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.