The FA toasts online Cup success

The FA is toasting the success of its new FATV web portal after the first FA Cup match to be screened live on the internet attracted thousands of fans.

A first-round clash between Oldham Athletic and Leeds United, streamed live on TheFA.com, gathered 176,000 plays on Saturday evening.

According to the FA, this is a UK record for a free-to-view competitive football match on the internet and is also believed to be among the top five live web sporting events in UK history.

Leeds United beat Oldham Athletic 2-0 in the match and the Yorkshire side now face Kettering Town in a second-round clash that will be shown live online at ITV.com.

Ian Watmore, the FA's chief executive, said: "We have been absolutely thrilled with the viewer reaction and user numbers for both the games we have streamed live to date."

"This has proved that there is a growing online audience eager to see live football for free on the internet that is in addition to and complementary to the live games featured with our broadcast partner, ITV."

The next FA Cup tie to be broadcast exclusively live for free on the internet will be Norwich City's second-round trip to either Carlisle United or Morecambe on Saturday 28 November.

England's 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Portugal will also be shown live and online for free this weekend.