The FA Cup is the oldest club competition in world football – first contested in 1872, the FA Cup Final is one of English football’s major showpiece events and we were thrilled to host our first ever Green Room at Wembley Stadium for the historic occasion of the 150th Final.
Serial FA Cup winners Chelsea took on Liverpool in what was a repeat of the Carabao Cup Final and with Liverpool still in contention for a seemingly improbable quadruple and Chelsea trying to win silverware in what has been a troubled season, the stakes could not have been higher.
As the sun cast shadows over the Wembley arch, Green Room guests started to flock into our magnificent Pitch View East facility, and they were greeted by none other than former Liverpool striker and 1992 FA Cup winner Dean Saunders. Alongside Dean was former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and current talkSport pundit Jamie O’Hara and together they formed an entertaining duo, regaling stories of yesteryear, Wembley experiences and the legendary Brian Clough.
With The Green Room full and the atmosphere reaching fever pitch, it was time for both teams to enter the field…a shower of pyrotechnics and streamers greeted the players and with the blast of the referees whistle the game was underway!
Neither teams could be separated in the Carabao Cup Final in March and after 90 minutes and the scores locked at 0-0, there was a sense of déjà vu permeating around the stadium. There were chances for both teams with January star signing Luis Diaz hitting the woodwork for Liverpool, but at the end of extra time, the teams could still not be separated, and it was time for penalties.
Chelsea and Liverpool contested one of the greatest penalty shootouts in living memory back in March with both goalkeepers taking kicks, but this shootout was to be different. Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta took their second penalty only to have it saved by Alisson, giving Liverpool advantage in the shootout. Liverpool scored their four penalties which gave superstar Sadio Mané the opportunity to win the cup for the Reds…in dramatic fashion he had is kick saved by Senegalese compatriot Edouard Mendy in the Chelsea goal and the shootout continued!
The scores were locked at 5-5 and England star Mason Mount stepped up for Chelsea, only to have his kick saved by Alisson. Up stepped second half substitute left back Kostas Tsimikas who slotted his penalty and in doing so wrote his name into Liverpool folklore cementing their 8th FA Cup victory.
Whilst the game may not have been high scoring, Green Room guests experienced intensity, drama, and passion of the highest order with Liverpool continuing their stunning 2022 campaign with their second cup win.
We can’t wait to be back at Wembley for our next major football match and for more information on our football hospitality experiences, click here.
