Revenge for United as they beat City to win the FA Cup

by Mick the Ram

Manchester United gained revenge over their rivals Manchester City with a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup Final, at Wembley Stadium.

City were going for a League and Cup double, having clinched the Premiership last weekend and were firm favourites at kick-off.

The match was a repeat of the final 12-months ago, which City won with relative ease and United came into the game on the back of one of their worst seasons for decades.

Their champions hadn’t lost a game this calendar year, apart from a penalty shoot-out to Real Madrid, and most pundits had them winning this at a canter.

However, the under-pressure United manager Eric Ten Hag got it tactically spot-on, countering brilliantly and closing their neighbours down with a pressing game that seemed to take their opponents by surprise.

Two first-half goals by Alejadro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo rocked City and although they pulled one back late on, they could not find a way through and it was the red side of Manchester celebrating at the final whistle.

Last game in charge?

After a miserable season, United came into this derby final with a growing expectation that they will be relieving their manager of his duties this summer, regardless of the result. They had squeezed through their semi-final against championship side Coventry City on penalties, after surrendering a three goal lead.

They have battled a long injury list all year, but for this game, Ten Hag at least had what he regards as his first choice centre-backs together, as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were both pronounced fit.

City meanwhile were buoyant after defending their premier title and were confident of repeating their cup success too. They brought in Mateo Kovacic, John Stones and Nathan Ake, in what appeared to be a strong line-up.

Mainoo the main man

Although City had all the early possession, they couldn’t conjure a genuine chance, with United superbly marshalled by 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in midfield. Then on 30 minutes a calamitous misunderstanding between keeper Stefan Ortega and full-back Josko Gvardiol, left Alejadro Garnacho with an empty net in front of him, and he duly obliged to put the Red Devils one up.

Nine minutes later and the United fans were in dreamland, when Mainoo applied a cool finish to a sweeping move involving Marcus Rashford, Garnacho and skipper Bruno Fernandes and suddenly there was a real belief in the red camp as they went two ahead.

City well below par

It had been a shadow of the Manchester City that everyone had seen in their fixtures since the turn of the year, and expectation was that they would come out all guns blazing for the second half.

They did bring on Jerermy Doku to add much needed width, but his reluctance to use his left foot resulted in him continually cutting inside and failing to utilise the space being offered.

Erling Haaland did smash a shot against the bar just before the hour mark and at that point there was a feeling it was not going to happen for the holders. When Julian Alvarez missed a great chance as he was through on goal and Kyle Walker had a rocket shot pushed around the post, that feeling intensified.

Nothing more than a consolation goal

With four minutes to go, Doku cut inside once more and his shot was allowed to sneak in by Andre Onana. Nevertheless, United held firm and were able to record their 13th FA Cup success.

City just hadn’t got going for whatever reason. Footballer Of The Year Phil Foden was anonymous, whilst Kevin de Bruyne is now having less and less impact on games and was withdrawn with more than 30 minutes still remaining.

Deserved winners

United cared little about that as their supporters wildly celebrated their shock victory in the stands and the players embraced each other, to salute a magnificent win and performance.

Prince William handed captain Fernandes the famous trophy, who triumphantly held it aloft with teammates alongside him. The win secured United a place in next season’s Europa League, whether Ten Hag will oversee that campaign remains to be seen.