Wimbledon ended Liverpool's attempt to win a second League and FA Cup Double in three seasons at Wembley on 14 May 1988. Lawrie Sanchez headed the only goal and Dave Beasant saved John Aldridge's penalty as Bobby Gould's side beat the league champions 1–0.
Liverpool found openings in the first half, but Beasant kept them out. His close-range save from Aldridge became a second intervention as John Barnes followed up, before Vinnie Jones cleared. He also stopped Alan Hansen before the interval.
The decisive goal followed a frustrating passage for Liverpool. Peter Beardsley escaped Andy Thorn and put the ball into the net, but referee Brian Hill had already stopped play to award Liverpool a free-kick for Thorn's foul. Soon afterwards Dennis Wise delivered a free-kick from Wimbledon's left and Sanchez glanced a header past Bruce Grobbelaar.
Wimbledon's organisation restricted Liverpool's attacks. Wise worked back to help Clive Goodyear against Barnes, while the midfield protected central defenders Thorn and Eric Young. Their lead nevertheless depended on another intervention from Beasant around the hour.
Hill awarded Liverpool a penalty after Goodyear's challenge on Aldridge. Wimbledon disputed the decision, maintaining that Goodyear had played the ball. Aldridge took the kick, and Beasant dived to his left to turn it around the post: the first penalty save in an FA Cup final.
Kenny Dalglish introduced Craig Johnston for Aldridge and later Jan Mølby for Nigel Spackman. Liverpool could not equalise. Eleven years after playing outside the Football League, Wimbledon had won the FA Cup; Liverpool's season ended with the championship and a Wembley defeat before 98,203 spectators.