Man Utd cling on to clinch FA Cup glory and dash Man City double dreams

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were the match-winners as Manchester United secured a stunning 2-1 victory over neighbours Manchester City to lift the 2024 FA Cup and leave Pep Guardiola’s double dream in tatters.

The Red Devils were organised and menacing on the break from the off and stole in front on the half-hour mark when Garnacho capitalised upon a shocking mix-up between Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol to roll the ball into an empty net.

It got even better for Erik ten Hag’s side nine minutes later when a brilliant move involving Marcus Rashford, Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes ended with Mainoo guiding a fine first-time shot beyond the ‘keeper.

The Citizens, who were aiming to become the only team to achieve back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles, were strangely out-of-sorts for long spells but did rattle the bar through Erling Haaland on 55 minutes.

City continued to belatedly up the ante as the second half developed and pulled one back three minutes from time when substitute Jeremy Doku squeezed a 20-yard shot beyond Andre Onana at his near post.

It proved too little, too late for the Premier League champions, however, as United hung on to avenge last year’s final defeat.

There is no denying it has been a very difficult season for Manchester United and Ten Hag but they have somehow concluded a campaign that saw them register their worst Premier League finish by lifting the FA Cup for the 13th time.

It means they will play in Europe again next term and could yet save Ten Hag his job, although reports on the eve of the final suggested the club had already decided to axe the Dutchman regardless of the outcome at Wembley.

It could yet have echoes of when Louis van Gaal led The Red Devils to the 2016 trophy, only to be relieved of his duties two days later. If that fate does befall Ten Hag, then he at least leaves having delivered another trophy and with his head held high.

As for City, they were way off their imperious best and miss out on another moment of history to leave a slight sense of deflation on the back of the euphoria of landing four straight Premier League titles a week earlier.

The Frenchman produced one his finest United performances in his final outing for the club. He has struggled for fitness along with central defensive partner, Lisandro Martinez, all season but the duo pretty much kept Haaland and Co at bay to lay the foundations for a famous triumph.

MAN CITY: Ortega 5, Walker 7, Gvardiol 5, Ake 6, Stones 6, Rodri 6, Kovacic 6, De Bruyne 5, Foden 5, Silva 5, Haaland 5. Subs: Akanji 5, Doku 8, Alvarez 5.

MAN UTD: Onana 8, Wan-Bissaka 9, Dalot 8, Martinez 9, Varane 9*, Amrabat 8, Mainoo 9, McTominay 8, Fernandes 8, Garnacho 9, Rashford 8. Subs: Evans 7, Hojlund 7, Mount n/a, Lindelof n/a.

30’ – GOAL! – Man City 0-1 Man Utd: (Garnacho) A dreadful mix-up between Gvardiol and Ortega allows Garnacho to chase down a long ball and slide it gleefully into an empty net.

39’ – GOAL! – Man City 0-2 Man Utd: (Mainoo) It’s a sublime counter as Rashford’s raking diagonal pass finds Garnacho, who combines with Fernandes to tee up Mainoo to guide a first-time finish beyond Ortega.

55’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Haaland rattles the crossbar with a thunderous first-time effort from Doku’s low pass.

64’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Alvarez swoops on to Foden’s pass to move one-on-one with Onana but he drags a low effort wide of the far post.

87’ – GOAL! – Man City 1-2 Man Utd: (Doku) Lifeline for City! Doku cuts in from the left and manages to squeeze a bouncing 20-yard drive past Onana at his near post.