Researching this rundown has been a fantastic endorsement of how many episodes of the world's oldest cup competition that Australians have contributed towards. Over the coming days we will be charting the top five moments, starting in reverse order with a stellar rearguard performance at Old Trafford...

Patrick Kisnorbo
3 January 2010
Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1, FA Cup Third Round

For many, the Manchester United and Liverpool rivalry is the biggest in the North of England, but try telling that to Leeds fans! Their fierce rivalry during the 70s continued for decades, before Leeds' recent fall from grace saw the great club tumble to the third tier of English football.

However, the beauty of the FA Cup is that old rivalries can be reignited in the lottery of the draw and exactly that happened when Leeds were handed a trip to the red half of Manchester.

Heading into the game Manchester United had never before lost in the third round of the FA Cup - or been knocked out of it by a lower-division side - during Sir Alex Ferguson's 23-year reign as manager. Leeds themselves came into the game unbeaten in 15 games and having lost only twice all season. Despite that form, Leeds were still expected to be brushed aside by the Premier League champions.

Jermaine Beckford's 19th minute strike put Leeds ahead against the odds, but that early mark was followed by a barrage of sustained pressure from the hosts. Leading the charge for Manchester United was Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov but standing in their way was Aussie centre-back Patrick Kisnorbo.

 Kisnorbo produced a simply brilliant back-line performance, even as Fergie introduced Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen from the subs' bench in the second-half, to keep a clean sheet as Leeds ran out unlikely 0-1 victors!

Leeds has a proud history of signing Aussie stars and it was Kisnorbo who entered that folk law as he thwarted the superstars of Old Trafford in an historic FA Cup win.


The FA Cup is shown exclusively on Setanta Sports in Australia and we've teamed up with our chums at the sports channel to provide an offer just to FourFourTwo readers. You can subscribe to Setanta and watch the final rounds of this year's FA Cup for a very reasonable price!

Our exclusive FourFourTwo reader offer allows you to get Setanta Sports for just $7.50 per month for the first three months with no registration fee. That's a saving of $45.46 compared with three months at the standard monthly rate of $16.99 plus a usual $16.99 registration fee. After those first three month you move onto the standard payment of $16.99 p/m on a rolling contract with Setanta.

To take advantage of this offer, either call Setanta's call centre on 1300 738268 and quote the promotional code SS442MAG03 or enter that code into the promotional field on the online subscription form. Note: this offer is only valid during the month of March.

This month's FA Cup fixtures involve the quarter-finals, including the blockbuster clash between Manchester United and Arsenal (KO 4.15pm Sun 12 March). Elsewhere big spending Manchester City host Reading (KO 4.15am Mon 13 March), League Cup winner Birmingham prepare for the visit of Bolton (KO 11.45pm Sat 11 March), while Stoke will take on West Ham (KO 1.00am Mon 13 March). Don't miss out on the action or this superb FourFourTwo and Setanta offer!