Paul Gascoigne and the 20 Greatest FA Cup Semi-Final Moments

Aside from the exciting climax of the Premier League season, this weekend also brings two FA Cup semi-finals.

In arguably the least fashionable line-up of the past few years, Wigan face a beleaguered Arsenal on Saturday before Hull tackle Sheffield United on Sunday.

Ahead of the weekend's ties, here's a look at some of the greatest moments at this stage of the competition.

Goals, performances, decisions and results all contribute to these 20 memorable semi-finals.

1953: Bolton vs. Everton

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We start way back in the 1950s in one of the most entertaining, topsy-turvy ties in FA Cup history.

Division One Bolton raced into a 3-0 lead after 12 minutes against Second Division Everton.

The Toffees missed a penalty and by half-time it was 4-0, with a cricket score looking the only likely conclusion.

However, Everton somehow roused themselves for a full-scale onslaught against their top tier opponents.

4-0 quickly became 4-3, and although Bolton prevailed to face Blackpool in the final (above) the comeback and overall game remains one of the very best FA Cup semi-finals. 

The goals can be seen here.

1958: Manchester United vs. Fulham

Another classic from the archives was Manchester United's triumph over Fulham in 1958.

Again, this was more the occasion winning through than any singular moment of magic.

The game was an end-to-end classic, with United eventually running out 5-3 winners after a replay.

The tragic events of the Munich air disaster, just a few months earlier, added further poignancy and admiration toward Manchester United's win.

1977: Clive Thomas vs. Everton

Skipping forward a few decades to 1977, Liverpool and Everton played out a typically frenetic Merseyside derby at Maine Road.

This is the only slide where a referee steals the show.

With the scores level at 2-2, Bryan Hamilton seemed to slot home the winner in the dying seconds of the game.

However, in one of the FA Cup's most controversial calls, Clive Thomas chalked off the goal for handball, robbing the Toffees of what seemed a legitimate victory.

Liverpool's 3-0 win in the replay left their rivals feeling especially hard done by. 

1980: Frank Lampard Senior vs. Everton

Frank Lampard's father etched his name in FA Cup history thanks to a dramatic late winner against Everton in 1980.

The Toffees equalised during the closing stages of a tense replay at Elland Road and both sides seemed set for yet another clash before Lampard—a far more infrequent scorer than his son—stooped to head West Ham into the final.

As with many of these moments, the ensuing celebrations became just as iconic as the goal.

1980: Brian Talbot vs. Liverpool

Staying in 1980, the second semi-final was an equally memorable occasion—albeit without the same dramatic moments as the first.

Before the era of penalty shootouts, drawn ties would continually go to a replay.

Arsenal and Liverpool simply could not be separated and faced each other for an astonishing 450 minutes of football, over four individual matches.

During the fourth game, Arsenal's Brian Talbot finally ended the marathon tie to send Liverpool out and decide the longest FA Cup semi-final in history.

1982: Clive Allen vs. West Brom

Clive Allen secured his place in Queens Park Rangers' history by scoring the only goal of the 1982 semi-final.

Rangers, a second division club at the time, faced a West Brom side with an impressive haul of 10 FA Cup finals.

Allen's strike clinched a first—and only—FA Cup final for the West London club and upset the heavy favourites.

As has so often been the case, the success of an FA Cup underdog caught the imagination of every watching neutral.

1983: Jimmy Case vs. Sheffield Wednesday

A dismal league campaign can always be sweetened by some expected cup success.

That was certainly the case in 1983, when Brighton—in their first ever semi-final—met Sheffield Wednesday.

The Seagulls would be relegated from top flight football that season, but found cup glory thanks to Jimmy Case.

Having scored in three consecutive rounds, Case once again provided the difference, scoring a long-range screamer to send his side to Wembley.

1985: Bryan Robson vs. Liverpool

Another moment remembered for some individual input was the 1985 semi-final between Manchester United and Liverpool.

This was Bryan Robson in his pomp—especially during the replay.

In one of the most inspired individual showings in the FA Cup, the England captain dragged his side into the final with a stunning display.

He scored in both games and, despite Mark Hughes grabbing the actual winner, was carried off the pitch on the shoulders of fans.

1988: Dennis Wise vs. Luton Town

Wimbledon's FA Cup success in 1988 was one of the biggest fairy tales in the competition's history.

The Dons were regular underdogs en route to the final, having played fourth tier football just six seasons before this win.

Their final appearance came courtesy of a 2-1 semi-final victory over Luton.

Dennis Wise sent the Crazy Gang to Wembley with a unique, two-footed lunge.

1990: Alan Pardew vs. Liverpool

Crystal Palace and Liverpool played out one of the all-time classic FA Cup semi-finals in 1990.

Once again, this was the tale of a lesser-fancied side having their day.

Palace had suffered a humiliating 9-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool earlier in the season, yet were a different animal during their semi-final clash.

Even without their talisman, Ian Wright, the Londoners wouldn't be denied.

They scored a last-second equaliser to force extra-time and won the game through Alan Pardew's 110th minute strike.

1990: Roger Palmer vs. Manchester United

Staying in 1990, the second semi-final was another high-scoring affair. 

While Manchester United ultimately came through, via a replay, Oldham's resolve won many hearts on the day.

Down in the first game, they scored an equaliser to force extra time. After falling behind again, Roger Palmer levelled the scores at 3-3 to force a replay.

The Latics even forced extra time in the second match with yet another late goal, before finally falling to the eventual cup winners.

1991: Paul Gascoigne vs. Arsenal

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Paul Gascoigne single-handedly secured Tottenham's place in the 1991 final with a match-winning contribution.

Barely fit enough to start, he bagged an early goal and set up a second for Gary Lineker, before being withdrawn on the hour mark.

In terms of a moment, his stunning free-kick set the tone just minutes into the game.

Few would have the audacity to test David Seaman from such distance, but Gascoigne delivered one of the finest strikes of his career to provide his side with an early lead.

1993 Mark Bright vs. Sheffield United

Back in the early 1990s, both Sheffield clubs were Premier League foes as well as fierce local rivals.

Their derby was one of the spiciest ties of the season, and both sides contested one of the 1993 FA Cup semi-finals.

After a tight contest, Mark Bright secured a route through to the final thanks to an extra-time strike that gifted bragging rights to the blue half of the city.

1994: Mark Hughes vs. Oldham

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Not for the first time, Manchester United found Oldham Athletic a tough side to dispose of and came within seconds of an improbable elimination in 1994. 

Trailing 1-0 in extra time, with mere seconds remaining, Mark Hughes popped out a leg to stab home an equaliser, staving off a huge upset.

United went on to the win the replay 4-1 before claiming their first ever double, thanks to a 4-0 win over Chelsea in the final.

1995: Daniel Amokachi vs. Tottenham

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Daniel Amokachi's cameo in the 1995 semi-final will forever remain with Evertonians.

The Toffees were enduring a tough time in the league, languishing down in 15th position.

They were supposed to struggle against a Tottenham side crammed full of internationals, including Jurgen Klinsmann.

However, Joe Royle's side had other ideas.

They marched to a convincing 4-1 victory, with Amokachi's two-goal salvo ending the tie as a contest.

1997: Jamie Hewitt vs. Middlesbrough

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Not all of these semi-final moments end in glory for the team in question; that's certainly the case for Chesterfield in 1997.

The third-tier outfit were rank outsiders against Premier League Middlesbrough, but raced into a shock 2-1 lead.

Not for the first time, controversy reigned and poor refereeing denied them a third and what would surely have been a shock win.

Middlesbrough capitalised on their opponent's deflation and snatched a late 3-2 lead before Jamie Hewitt's last-minute equaliser helped ease the overpowering sense of injustice.

Chesterfield eventually lost the replay but remain one of the best underdog stories in recent times.

1999: Ryan Giggs vs. Arsenal

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One of the most memorable occasions in recent FA Cup semi-final ties was Ryan Giggs' solo goal against Arsenal in 1999.

Down to 10-men and having survived a fierce Gunners' onslaught for the best part of 110 minutes, Giggs collected a stray pass deep inside his own half.

What followed has become the stuff of legend at Old Trafford.

Giggs proceeded to glide his way past numerous tackles, eventually firing the ball past David Seaman from an improbable angle.

The wild celebrations that followed have become just as remembered as the goal.

2009: Phil Jagielka vs. Manchester United

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In terms of a spectacle, the 2009 final was simply dire.

Everton arrived to frustrate Manchester United and succeeded, stifling the soon-to-be Premier League champions at every turn.

Once 120 minutes had passed, however, the drama of a penalty shoot-out revived the neutrals.

Everton missed their first kick, keeping United on course for an unprecedented quadruple. It wasn't to be, and several poor penalties swung the tie in Everton's direction.

Phil Jagielka's final strike won the match and sent Evertonians into raptures.

2010: Frederic Piquionne and Kevin Prince-Boateng vs. Tottenham

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Portsmouth's Premier League campaign of 2010 was something of a car crash.

Debts soared and key players were offloaded in an attempt to avoid financial ruin.

By the time they faced Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final, the South Coast side already knew they would be a Championship side the following year.

Few gave them much hope against Tottenham, but—having kept the game scoreless for 90 minutes—goals from Frederic Piquionne and Kevin Prince-Boateng secured an unexpected triumph in extra-time.

2011: Yaya Toure vs. Manchester United

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The 2011 FA Cup semi-final was more poignant in its result than memorable for an individual moment.

City's 1-0 win set them on course for a first trophy in 35 years and confirmed their rise to the top as a new powerhouse of the English game.

Fittingly, Yaya Toure—so often City's key man—grabbed the winning goal to make United all too aware of their rival's rapid progress.