<Tr> <Th> Weather </Th> <Td> Mostly cloudy, rain showers 10 ° C (50 ° F) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 2004 2006 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2005 FA Cup Final was a football match played between Arsenal and Manchester United on 21 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff . It was the final match of the 2004--05 FA Cup, the 124th season of English football's primary cup competition, the FA Cup . Arsenal became the first team to win the FA Cup via a penalty shoot - out, despite being outplayed throughout the game, after neither side managed to score in the initial 90 minutes or in 30 minutes of extra time . The shoot - out finished 5--4 to Arsenal, with Patrick Vieira scoring the winning penalty after Paul Scholes' shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann . </P> <P> As both teams were in the highest tier of English football, the Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester United entered the competition in the third round . Matches up to the semi-final were contested on a one - off basis, with a replay taking place if the match ended in a draw . Both clubs only needed one replay along the way to the final; Arsenal's tie against Sheffield United in the fifth round was decided by a penalty shootout, whereas Manchester United overcame non-league Exeter City in the third round, after the original tie ended goalless . </P>

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