Wednesday A-Z: 5/26 - Extra Time

Over the years we've had our fair share of cup wins and woes, penalty shoot-outs and extra-time - and the fifth installment of our Wednesday A-Z looks at just that - extra time...

No matter whether we've been playing Arsenal or Chelsea, Watford or Crystal Palace - extra time always seems to add that little bit of excitement to matches.

Of course, it's much more fun when our team isn't involved, but there's nothing like that tension, nervousness and little bit of excitement when a match goes into extra-time.

We've had famous extra-time matches and not-so-famous extra-time matches.

Most recently it was a 2-1 extra time win against Hartlepool United in the League Cup, although not that memorable.

Yoann Folly - remember him? - grabbed a dramatic late winner in the last minute of the extra 30 to send Wednesday through to the next round, where Wednesday's effort was duly rewarded with a 3-0 thumping by Everton in the following round.

More famously, and more memorable - although not for all the right reasons - was the FA Cup final defeat against Arsenal at Wembley.

The Owls had already secured a replay at Wembley with a 1-1 draw against the Gunners, thanks to a David Hirst leveller just after the hour mark.

And if the replay couldn't get more tense, extra-time was required beneath the Twin Towers to decide the 1992-93 FA Cup winner.

We all know what happened next, a great tussle between two teams in fine form won by the head of Andy Linighan just a minute before the match was due to go to a penalty shoot-out.

Heartache for Wednesdayites, joy for Arsenal fans as they lifted the famous trophy.

Owls fans do have more fond memories of extra-time though, and don't have to think too far back to remember it.

The 2005 League One play-off final was decided with extra-time, Wednesday coming out on top with a 3-2 success against Hartlepool United at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

It was 2-2 going into added time, Steve Maclean rescuing Wednesday with a spot-kick in the latter stages of the match.

And, with Hartlepool down to ten men for the added 30 minutes, Wednesday took full advantage to wrap the game up before spot-kicks were required.

Glenn Whelan put Wednesday ahead before Drew Talbot ran half the length of the pitch to score a superb fourth and send the Owls to the Championship with a 4-2 win.

We may not like extra-time, but it certainly gives fans more excitement, more tension and definitely more finger-nail biting.