Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho starred as Manchester United stunned Manchester City to win the 2023-2024 FA Cup.
Manchester City started the game on the front foot, dominating proceedings but were dealt a blow in the 17th minute when a costly defensive error by Gvardiol handed United a rare chance.
Diogo Dalot had sent a long ball over the top for Garnacho. Gvardiol had the chance to clear the ball but mistakenly headed it past Stefan Ortega.
Garnacho, recovering from a challenge from the Serbian, volleyed the ball into the empty net to give United an unexpected lead.
City ramped up an attempt to find an equaliser, pressing United down to their half and having almost all their outfield players in the United half. Reeling under heavy pressure, United held on with their low block and successfully thwarted several offensives by the opponents.
Meanwhile, they relied on speedy counter-offensives to threaten City’s backline and make attempts to double the lead.
Luckily, the Red Devils found another goal against the run of play in the 39th minute. Marcus Rashford had played the ball over the top to Garnacho on the right-hand side, and he picked out Fernandes in the centre. Fernandes then played a first-time pass to Mainoo who burst into the penalty area before calmly slotting it into the back of the net.
The two goals were enough to send the Red Devils into the break with an unlikely 2-0 lead, thanks to goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
The second half was no different from the first. Manchester City dominated proceedings but met United’s brink wall defence on countless occasions.
Frustrated with the deadlock in United’s final third, Pep Guardiola brought on Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku for Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne to spice up the attack.
Doku proved a constant threat on the left wing but was frequently marked out by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Julian Alvarez came close to reducing the deficit but had his attempt roll across the goal-mouth.
Your @ManUtd champions lift the #EmiratesFACup trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yrjbE8TRH8
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 25, 2024
United were closing in on an epic victory as they maintained the lead with less than 10 minutes to the regulation time.
With three minutes left on the clock, Jeremy Doku finally got the better of Wan-Bissaka and Amrabat. Receiving the ball on the left-hand side, the former Rennes winger cut to his right and then fired a low shot into the bottom corner. United goalkeeper Andre Onana had no chance as he sprawled to the ground and could only punch the ball into the back of the net.
It was a lifeline goal for the Premier League champions but it was not enough for a comeback. However, the goal set both sides on their nerves as they ran through the additional minutes of the game.
At the blast of the final whistle, United successfully ran out with a 2-1 victory to beat the dominant cross-city rivals to the 2024 FA Cup trophy.
