Leicester dominated the early stages of the game but Palace took the lead on 14 minutes with a strike from Andy Roberts.

The game went into extra time and the final minute of the additional period of play, Leicester, anticipating a penalty shootout, substituted in 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) tall goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

Crystal Palace ended their next campaign in sixth place in the First Division, and were promoted via the play-offs, winning the final 1–0 against Sheffield United with a last-minute goal.

Crystal Palace finished four points behind Derby County (who were promoted in second place) and eight behind league winners Sunderland.

The match finished goalless with Kevin Poole, the home team's goalkeeper, making a save in the fifth minute from Graham Potter.

He had been restored to the team after ten games following a disagreement with manager Martin O'Neill, and his volley from a Scott Taylor cross made it 1–0 to the visitors.

Charlton took the lead in the first minute when Shaun Newton capitalised on a rebound from Palace's goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

Six minutes later Carl Veart's header from a George Ndah overhead kick made it 2–1 to Crystal Palace.

[10] Roberts had not played since 9 April, however, when he sustained a rib injury against West Bromwich Albion after a collision with Stacy Coldicott.

[6] O'Neill had been Leicester manager since December 1995 when he left Norwich City after claiming the chairman Robert Chase was not providing sufficient financial support.

[15] Despite criticism from fans who were dissatisfied with Leicester's style of play during O'Neill's early tenure, and failing to win in his first nine matches, the team ended the regular season undefeated in their last seven games and qualified for the play-offs on the final day.

[20] Leicester City's defender Taylor had played for Reading, who had lost the previous season's First Division play-off final, and said he was keen to make amends: "It's an awful feeling to be beaten at Wembley ...

[28] In the second half, Poole saved a shot from George Ndah and then almost immediately defended a volley from Freedman.

[28] With less than a minute remaining, Steve Claridge struck the winning goal from a Julian Watts header, and eleven seconds later, the referee blew the final whistle.

[18] Neil Robinson in The Guardian reported that O'Neill was given a £5 million budget to make additions to the Leicester City squad.

[34] They also won the League Cup with the winning goal coming from Claridge in extra time in a replay, after the first final was drawn, and ensuring the club qualified for European football.

[35] Crystal Palace ended their next campaign in sixth place in the First Division, and were promoted via the play-offs, winning the final 1–0 against Sheffield United with a last-minute goal.