By In a thrilling FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, Manchester United emerged victorious with a stunning 2-1 win over defending champion Manchester City. The victory not only secured United’s first silverware of the season but also deprived their crosstown rival of a historic back-to-back English league-cup double.
The match, a repeat of last year’s final which City won 2-1, saw United take control early on. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the 30th minute, capitalizing on mistakes from City defender Josko Gvardiol and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Kobbie Mainoo then added a second goal just nine minutes later, sparking passionate celebrations from manager Erik ten Hag, whose job had been under intense scrutiny leading up to the final.
Despite United’s dominant first-half performance, City refused to surrender their trophy without a fight. Pep Guardiola’s team piled on the pressure in the second half, with Erling Haaland hitting the bar and Kyle Walker forcing United goalkeeper Andre Onana into two impressive saves. City’s persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute when substitute Jeremy Doku scored from long range, setting up a tense finish.
However, United held on to secure their 13th FA Cup title, just one behind Arsenal’s record of 14. The win also marks Ten Hag’s second trophy in as many years at the club, following last year’s League Cup triumph. Players and staff embraced the Dutch manager on the field after the final whistle, as he managed to end a troubled campaign on a high note.
The victory was witnessed by United’s co-owners, Americans Joel and Avram Glazer, as well as British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. Speculation about Ten Hag’s future had dominated the buildup to the final, with many anticipating he would lose his job regardless of the result after overseeing United’s worst league season in 34 years.
For City, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. After becoming the first English team to win four titles in a row, they had aimed to set a new benchmark by completing back-to-back doubles. The club’s parade in Manchester on Monday to celebrate their historic league success will now be missing the FA Cup.
United’s Kobbie Mainoo summed up the team’s resilience, saying, “It’s been a tough season with ups and downs. This is the only thing we’ve had to look forward to. We knew we had to come together. The preparation for this game has been amazing. We’ve shown we can compete and win games.”
The FA Cup final victory not only brings joy to Manchester United fans but also secures the club’s place in next season’s Europa League, providing a platform for Ten Hag to build upon as he looks to restore the Red Devils to their former glory.
