On 21st March 1999, Spurs took on Leicester City in the last League Cup Final (then known as the Worthington Cup) under the Twin Towers at the old Wembley.

Spurs recorded some impressive wins along the road to Wembley, including beating Liverpool at Anfield, Wimbledon in the semi finals and Man Utd in the quarter finals (thus preventing Man Utd’s Treble Season being a quadruple one!).

As is often the case, the final did not live up to expectation and ended up a fairly drab affair – well, that’s if you discount the sending off and last minute winner.

Leicester played as all Martin O’Neill teams tended to play, in a very well-organised, disciplined defensive formation. Leicester were set up to deny Spurs time and space, hoping to hit them on the counter-attack, but on the day seemed to have very few attacking ideas of their own. Spurs were unable to take advantage of these negative tactics and were drawn into a game of attrition.

Ironically, Spurs only really came to life when they were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute following Justin Edinburgh’s sending off (quiz fact: last person sent off at old Wembley). Even with Spurs tinted specs on, it was a harsh sending off following a minor retaliation to a Robbie Savage challenge. Even with the player advantage, Leicester seemed devoid of ideas and never showed any inclination or urgency to press home the numerical advantage.

Although Spurs looked the likelier despite being a man down, they didn’t really threaten and it looked as if everyone was going to have to endure thirty minutes of extra time. However, in the final seconds, Spurs had the ball in midfield Les Ferdinand laid the out to the right to Steffan Iversen who broke forward at pace past his marker and powered in on goal. His cross/shot was only parried by Kasey Keller and Allan Nielsen who was following up, flung himself forward to head the ball into the net.

Cue wild celebrations for both players and fans alike as there would be no time for Leicester to respond.

Spurs, lifting the League Cup for the 3rd time in the club’s history and the last League Cup winners at the old Wembley.

Spurs team: Ian Walker; Stephen Carr, Ramon Vega, Judas, Justin Edinburgh, Darren Anderton, Steffen Freund, Allan Nielsen, David Ginola (Andy Sinton), Steffen Iversen, Les Ferdinand.