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 Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2000. It was the 34th and last League Cup final to be played at the original Wembley Stadium. Leicester won 2–1 to become the last team to win the League Cup at the old Wembley.
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 (Leicester won 4–2 on penalties)
Quarter-final: Leicester City 3–3 Fulham (Leicester won 3–0 on penalties)
Semi-final, 1st leg: Aston Villa 0–0 Leicester City
Semi-final, 2nd leg: Leicester City 1–0 Aston VillaTranmere 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
GK 1 Tim FlowersCB 18 Matt Elliott (c)CB 3 Frank SinclairCB 4 Gerry TaggartRM 6 Muzzy IzzetCM 29 Stefan Oakes CM 14 Robbie Savage CM 7 Neil LennonLM 11 Steve GuppyCF 27 Tony Cottee CF 9 Emile HeskeySubstitutes:GK 22 Pegguy ArphexadDF 15 Phil GilchristMF 37 Theodoros ZagorakisMF 24 Andy Impey FW 20 Ian Marshall Manager: Martin O'Neill GK 13 Joe MurphyRB 30 Reuben HazellCB 5 Dave Challinor CB 6 Clint Hill LB 33 Gareth RobertsRM 14 Andy Parkinson CM 15 Gary JonesCM 11 Nick HenryLM 7 Alan MahonCF 9 David Kelly (c)CF 10 Scott TaylorSubstitutes:GK 1 John AchterbergDF 31 Steve Yates DF 3 Andy ThompsonFW 16 Alan MorganFW 29 Michael BlackManager: John Aldridge
Man of the Match: Matt Elliott (Leicester City)
Assistant referees: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire) Wendy Toms Fourth official: Phil Richards (Lancashire)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.
References