2000 Football League Cup Final


The 2000 Football League Cup Final was played between Leicester City, in their third final appearance in four years, and First Division side Tranmere Rovers at the Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2000. Leicester became the last team to win the League Cup at the original Wembley Stadium.

Road to the final

Leicester City

Round 2, 1st leg: Crystal Palace 3–3 Leicester City
Round 2, 2nd leg: Leicester City 4–2 Crystal Palace
Round 3: Leicester City 2–0 Grimsby Town
Round 4: Leicester City 0–0 Leeds United
Quarter-final: Leicester City 3–3 Fulham
Semi-final, 1st leg: Aston Villa 0–0 Leicester City
Semi-final, 2nd leg: Leicester City 1–0 Aston Villa

Tranmere Rovers

Round 1, 1st leg: Blackpool 2–1 Tranmere Rovers
Round 1, 2nd leg: Tranmere Rovers 3–1 Blackpool
Round 2, 1st leg: Tranmere Rovers 5–1 Coventry City
Round 2, 2nd leg: Coventry City 3–1 Tranmere Rovers
Round 3: Tranmere Rovers 2–0 Oxford United
Round 4: Tranmere Rovers 4–0 Barnsley
Quarter-final: Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Middlesbrough
Semi-final, 1st leg: Bolton Wanderers 0–1 Tranmere Rovers
Semi-final, 2nd leg: Tranmere Rovers 3–0 Bolton Wanderers

Match summary

Scott Taylor's successful tackle on Robbie Savage forced the ball out for a corner, and Matt Elliott headed home Leicester's first goal courtesy of a Steve Guppy cross from the right.
Leicester came close to scoring a second goal in the 60th minute when Emile Heskey passed the ball to an unmarked Muzzy Izzet in the penalty box, who hesitated and his shot flew wide of the goal.
Referee Alan Wilkie later suffered an injury in the right leg in the 62nd minute, and was stretchered off. Phil Richards, the fourth official, was brought on to replace him.
Clint Hill picked up his second booking and was sent off after a deliberate foul on Heskey in the 63rd minute. Several Tranmere players protested but the decision stood.
Tranmere, down to ten men, rallied and their persistence paid off when they equalised in the 77th minute when a fine header found its way to an unmarked David Kelly who, after narrowly escaping Matt Elliott's attempted tackle, shot low to the left past goalkeeper Tim Flowers. Yet, just three minutes later, Elliott scored another towering header from another Guppy corner kick from the right, and the League Cup went to Leicester.

Match details