The day spirit soared over status

Rothmans Football Yearbook, a publication better known for dry fact than gushing opinion, declared of the astonishing events on 8 April 1990: "There have never been two more exciting FA Cup semi- finals in the same season." Thirteen years on from the sunny Sunday on which Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 4-3 and Oldham Athletic held Manchester United 3-3, the judgement still holds good; and it would be entirely unreasonable even to hope for anything as dramatic when the former pair meet again at Selhurst Park in the fourth round this afternoon.

Not that expectations were terribly high in 1990. Younger readers may need apprising – and older ones reminding – of a time when Liverpool were the power in the land, the club the glory-hunters flocked to. Champions for seven of the previous 11 seasons, and runners-up in three, they were heading comfortably for another title. Among the contributions towards it was a 9-0 humiliation of Crystal Palace at Anfield, with eight different scorers. Add a comfortable 2-0 success at Selhurst Park in the return game and it was a serious challenge to make out the case for anything other than another one-sided romp in the semi-final.

The official Villa Park match programme did its best, intoning: "This is the very essence of the Cup, a 'sudden-death' fixture between a club who ought to win but could slip up against a side whom few outside of their own ranks would choose, but who are capable of creating a surprise result."

But the team-lists on the back page suggested only a mis-match between honest endeavour and seasoned talent: John Pemberton, Richard Shaw, Geoff Thomas and Phil Barber against Alan Hansen, Peter Beardsley, Ian Rush and John Barnes.

After the Anfield débâcle, Palace had expensively recruited Nigel Martyn, England's first £1m goalkeeper, and Andy Thorn, to stiffen the defence. They still lay no higher than 15th in the table, and had suffered a dreadful blow a fortnight earlier when Ian Wright broke a bone in his leg for the second time that season. Without him, the manager Steve Coppell decided on a plan of containment and frustration.

"We played with five at the back," recalled John Salako, the winger given an unusual role: "Myself and Richard Shaw were given man-marking jobs, with me on Ray Houghton. It was one of Steve's strengths, that tactical awareness of how to look at the opposition and stop them playing. To be honest, a large part of our tactical set-up was to nullify the opposition."

When Rush scored after little more than quarter of an hour, it might have seemed time for Plan B. There was no Plan B. "I thought, 'Here we go'," Salako said. "But about a minute into the second half, John Pemberton went on that amazing run down the right, I somehow managed to keep pace with him to the far stick and although Bruce Grobbelaar saved my shot, Mark Bright volleyed in. I was watching the tape again yesterday and from that moment you could see the confidence and the belief flooding into us."

Astonishingly, Gary O'Reilly would score the next goal, to put the favourites behind. An unheralded centre-half with Tottenham and Brighton, he had suffered at Anfield and recalls having "nine good reasons to win" – 10 if Thomas's missed penalty that same awful evening was included. "The ball bounced in front of me and I just lashed it," is how O'Reilly remembers his great moment, but unlike Salako, he is no longer able to check the video tape. "I've literally worn the tape out, watching it so often, it's actually broken," O'Reilly said. "What I do remember is that we felt had to stop Beardsley, who was the service-provider for Rush. So we were quite defensive minded. After my goal, Steve McMahon scored a superb equaliser, then Pemberton gave a penalty away that John Barnes scored."

Three-two down, Palace's highly vocal following were settling for defeat with honour. They did not know the half of it. The midfielder Andy Gray equalised from a set-piece – one of the team's strengths – and Thorn even hit the bar before the end of normal time.

In the extra half-hour came the moment to add the name of Reading's current manager, Alan Pardew, to those contributors to FA Cup folklore. Crystal Palace 4, Liverpool 3.

A few hours later, Manchester United, incredibly, were fortunate to avoid a similar fate against Oldham of the Second Division, Jim Leighton's nerves beginning to frazzle in a 3-3 draw at Maine Road, before a narrow 2-1 win in the replay. In the final, fortune would again favour Alex Ferguson, who was desperate to win a trophy after four barren years since taking over: this time Mark Hughes scored the late equaliser for 3-3, and the full-back Lee Martin won a rugged second match.

Salako pinpoints that as the start of a new era in English football, when Liverpool's star began to wane – they have not won the championship since – and United's rose. For O'Reilly the lesson was that "team spirit could triumph over talent". Whether it will happen again today, he is not sure: "Liverpool have broken their duck with that win at Southampton and know what First Division football is all about after their run-in with Sheffield United. They should win, but I think Palace will push them. If they get a lucky break or two with their set plays, like we did 13 years ago, the old Cup magic might just work again."

And if anybody has a spare copy of the Villa Park video...

Whatever happened to the Unlikely Lads?

Steve Coppell (manager)

Resigned after relegation in 1993, returning for three further spells as technical director or manager. In charge of Manchester City for 33 days in 1996. Followed chairman Ron Noades to Brentford for one season and is now manager of Brighton.

Nigel Martyn

Became an England international within two years and left for Leeds in the summer of 1996. Currently displaced for country and club by Paul Robinson.

John Pemberton

The Cup final was his last match for Palace before joining Sheffield United, and later Leeds. Now youth-team coach at Nottingham Forest.

Richard Shaw

After 10 years at Palace, moved to Coventry in 1995-96 season and now in eighth year there.

Gary O'Reilly

Was forced to retire with a knee injury in 1993 after returning to Brighton. Now works for Adidas UK and BBC.

Andy Thorn

O'Reilly's central defensive partner moved back to his first club, Wimbledon, after three seasons and finished playing in 1996. Now a scout.

Andy Gray

Became a one-cap wonder away to Poland in 1991 after joining Tottenham. Otherwise unsuccessful there, played in Spain and for Falkirk. Now a players' agent.

Phil Barber

The little midfielder joined Millwall in 1991 and later Bristol City, playing for several other clubs on loan. Has been coaching in south London and working for Wimbledon's Football in the Community scheme.

Geoff Thomas

Won nine England caps under Graham Taylor, moving to Wolves in 1993 but suffering serious injuries. Played for Barnsley and Notts County and now runs a menswear firm.

Alan Pardew

Joined Charlton in 1991 and Barnet four years later, where he began coaching. Moved to Reading as reserve-team coach in 1997 and took over from Tommy Burns in 1999.

John Salako

Another member of the team to represent England (five times). Left for Coventry in 1995 and played for Bolton, Fulham and Charlton before helping Reading to promotion.

Mark Bright

Joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1992 and then Charlton, for whom he played in 1999 play-off final and the Premiership. Retired to concentrate on media work for the BBC.