Man City vs Man United LIVE: FA Cup final result and final score as Kobbie Mainoo goal wins it at Wembley | OneFootball

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Manchester United saved their best performance of a mediocre season to the very end as they upset Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday to deprive their rivals of the double.

With speculation swirling about the future of manager Erik Ten Hag, United ripped up the form book as first-half goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo proved enough for them to lift the trophy for a 13th time.

They had to endure a second-half siege, however, as City swarmed forward and a late goal by Jeremy Doku set up a nerve-shredding finale before United could celebrate at Wembley.

Premier League champions City, bidding to become the first club to win the double in successive seasons, had been on a 35-match unbeaten run in all competitions in open play.

But they were well below their best in the first half, gifting Garnacho a 30th-minute opener before Mainoo made it 2-0.

City woke up in the second half and Erling Haaland hit the crossbar, but they had to wait until the 87th minute for substitute Doku to halve the deficit.

United hung on, however, to seal the best result of Ten Hag’s two-season reign and qualification for next season’s Europa League.

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Manchester United seize the day to earn a famous FA Cup win as City lose their edge

In an FA Cup final when new Manchester City history was supposed to be made, and Erik ten Hag’s future supposed to be set, he and Manchester United lift the old trophy by seizing the day.

The new winners were fully immersed in the moment. It may be a moment if history in itself with how United silverware is such a surprise, but it was all the sweeter for that. The celebration of the crowd said enough. Ten Hag has the last word. The Dutch coach relishes a second trophy in two years – especially if this FA Cup final was indeed to be his final match at the club. Belatedly, Ten Hag has at least given the best possible case to keep his job, and maybe change expectations. His team changed all expectations about this match, as well as Pep Guardiola’s recent record. The Manchester City coach was beaten in a domestic cup final for the first time since 2011, to ensure he will not enjoy English football’s first ever double double, to amplify last year’s treble.

Such a record, and recent disparity, ensured United had to think and set up like underdogs. They threw themselves into that, for a 2-1 win over their great rivals that was also a reverse of last year’s final. Amid such history, and the club’s 13th FA Cup, there will be some authentic debate about the extent of a shock this is. United had finished eighth in the league, lower than Wimbledon when they beat Liverpool in 1988 in one of the biggest final shocks of all.

Miguel Delaney’s Wembley match report:

Manchester United seize the day for a famous FA Cup win as City lose their edge

Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United: First-half goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo stunned the Premier League champions at Wembley

Karl Matchett25 May 2024 17:39