1998 FA Cup Final at Old Trafford, Shearer scored the winner against Sheffield United. Arsenal were appearing in the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1993. They had won the cup on six separate occasions (in 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979 and 1993) and lost the showpiece final by the same amount. Newcastle in contrast were making their first Cup final appearance in 24 years. The club had won six FA Cups, and came runners-up five times, most recently against Liverpool in 1974. The 1998 final marked the third meeting between Arsenal and Newcastle United in Cup final history. Newcastle
1999 FA Cup Final saw them face Premier League opposition in every round except the Fifth, and also the last ever FA Cup semi-final replay, against the Cup holders from the previous season, Arsenal; Manchester United won the replay 2–1 after a 0–0 draw in the original match. Meanwhile, Newcastle beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in their semi-final. Since Manchester United qualified for the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League as title holders and winners of the 1998–99 FA Premier League, England's place in the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup, now reserved for the FA Cup winners following the dissolution of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup at the end