In an exciting FA Cup final showdown, Manchester United emerged victorious, securing their 13th FA Cup title with a 2-1 win against rivals Manchester City.
The match marked what could potentially be Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge, adding an extra layer of significance to the contest.
The Red Devils, keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s early setback, started strong.
Alejandro Garnacho had an early effort saved by Stefan Ortega, setting the tone for an intense battle at Wembley.
Despite City’s attempts to seize control, it was United who struck first blood.
Garnacho capitalized on a defensive mix-up between Josko Gvardiol and Ortega, slotting the ball into an empty net to give United the lead.
United’s confidence soared after the opener, and they doubled their advantage in style.
Kobbie Mainoo finished off a brilliant team move involving Marcus Rashford and Garnacho, leaving City with a mountain to climb going into the second half.
Guardiola’s tactical change, introducing Jeremy Doku, injected some life into City’s attack. Erling Haaland came close to scoring but hit the crossbar, highlighting City’s determination to fight back.
Andre Onana’s heroics in goal denied City’s attempts, but they eventually found a breakthrough with Doku’s strike beating Onana at the near post.
The late surge from City made for a tense finale, but United’s resilience held firm, securing a memorable triumph and their first FA Cup trophy since 2015/16.
This victory serves as a morale boost for United after a challenging Premier League season, while City narrowly missed out on making history with a league and cup double.
