1997 Football League Cup final

The 1997 Football League Cup Final was played between Middlesbrough and Leicester City. The first game, at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 6 April 1997, ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time. Fabrizio Ravanelli opened the scoring only for Leicester's Emile Heskey to equalise in the last minute of extra time. Heskey was fortunate to be on the field, having committed what was a bookable foul on Boro captain Nigel Pearson after already being booked. Leicester won the replay, and their second League Cup, in the game played at Hillsborough Stadium on 16 April 1997 with another extra-time goal, this time from Steve Claridge.

This was the last year that the Football League Cup Final was decided by a replay.

Road to Wembley
{|width=100%
 * width=50% valign=top|

Leicester City
Round 2, 1st leg: Scarborough 0–2 Leicester City

Round 2, 2nd leg: Leicester City 2–1 Scarborough

Round 3: York City 0–2 Leicester City

Round 4: Leicester City 2–0 Manchester United

Quarter-final: Ipswich Town 0–1 Leicester City

Semi-final, 1st leg: Leicester City 0–0 Wimbledon

Semi-final, 2nd leg: Wimbledon 1–1 Leicester City (on away goals)
 * width=50% valign=top|

Middlesbrough
Round 2, 1st leg: Middlesbrough 7–0 Hereford United

Round 2, 2nd leg: Hereford United 0–3 Middlesbrough

Round 3: Middlesbrough 5–1 Huddersfield Town

Round 4: Middlesbrough 3–1 Newcastle United

Quarter-final: Middlesbrough 2–1 Liverpool

Semi-final, 1st leg: Stockport County 0–2 Middlesbrough

Semi-final, 2nd leg: Middlesbrough 0–1 Stockport County
 * }