Manchester United have ended a season that was little short of shambolic by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup. They are unexpected but deserving winners, after putting on a terrific display of resilience and obduracy, while taking two of the few chances that came their way. Where have they been all season? Right now, m oments after they’ve signed off from a disappointing season with a flourish, their fans won’t care.
FA Cup final loser) and Victor Lindelof on for Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho.Manchester United and their beleaguered manager, who are seven minutes and whatever time is added on away from making fools of us all.Manchester United double-substitution: Jonny Evans and Rasmus Hojlund on for Martinez and Rashford. Doku tries to chivvy Martinezalong as he walks off ther pitch, prompting the Manchester United defender to dawdle even more. At this point, Kyle Walker gets up in the Martinez grill, finger-wagging furiously and slowing the whole process down even further.Manchester City, who are looking more dangerous with each passing minute.Manchester United break upfield after Phil Foden loses his balance and the ball in their penalty area. Garnacho is unable to beat Gvardiol for speed in a foot race and the City defender plays the ball back to Stefan Ortega.Manchester City substitution: Julian Alvarez on, Kevin De Bruyne off after an uncharacteristically poor day at the office. The Belgian takes his seat on the bench without making any fuss.Manchester United are two goals to the good on the back of an outstanding display and City have no answers for them. Pep has a lot of work to do in the next 15 minutes.
45+2 min: Having won the free-kick, Kevin De Bruyne takes it from wide on the lefrt. He drops the ball towards the far post, where there’s nobody in a City shirt on hand to get near it. Onana collects at his leisure.
45+1 min: Mainoo is booked for clattering through the back of Kevin De Bruyne.
41 min: Collecting an inch-perfect crossfield pass from Rashford, Garnacho played the ball inside from the right to Fernandes. With his first touch, the United midfilder stabbed the ball out left to the feet of Mainoo. The teenager looked up, picked his spot and guided his shot past Ortega into the corner. And what’s this? Why, it’s only Andre Onana sprinting the full length of the pitch to join in the celebrations.
United double their lead!!! Kobbie Mainoo puts the finishing touches on a fine move to pile more pain on City. He gets on the end of a wonderful pass from Bruno Fernandes to tuck the ball into the corner past Ortega.
38 min: Garnacho gets in behind City’s high line again, gallops forward and under pressure from Nathan Ake, squares the ball for Rashford. The United No10 slots home from five or six yards out, only to see the flag go up. Garnacho was offside, but not by much.
35 min: Sporting the kind of haircut that would make him look more at home playing as a ruckman in an Aussie Rules Grand Final, Lisandro Martinez slides in to dispossess Kevin De Bruyne with a meaty challenge and then gives a rabble-rousing fist-pump. United are on it today, while City are far from their best.
31 min: Oh my! Garnacho took advantage of City’s high line to run into space chasing a long ball played from deep. From the edge of the area, Gvardiol tried to head the ball back to Ortegas, oblivious to the fact that his goalkeeper had sprinted off his line and was right behind him. With defender and goalkeeper stranded in no-man’s land, Garnacho pounced to more or less walk the loose ball into a gaping, empty goal. It was a fine bit of opportunism that paid handsome dividends.
Manchester United lead!!! Garnacho takes advantage of a mix-up on the edge of the City penalty area between Gvardiol and Ortega to pounce on a loose ball and score into an empty net.
28 min: Walker plays the ball out wide to Gvardiol on the left touchline but he is unable to do much with it. He runs into traffic in the form of Wan-Bissaka and the ball cannons off his shin for a goal-kick.
27 min: From the edge of the United penalty area, Rodri tries to stand the ball up for Haaland at the far post but once again, Varane is on hand to head it away.
24 min: While City have dominated possession so far, they don’t look on top of their game today. There’s a certain lack of finesse in their play in the final third and by their own very high standards, they’re spraying a lot of stray passes around. United are pressing them with great intensity but won’t be able to keep that up for more than an hour or so. They need to score a goal or two before their energy levels drop.
21 min: Stefan Ortega trties to play out from the back but doesn’t put enough weight on his pass to Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian midfielder is forced to stretch every sinew in his body to prevent Bruno Fernandes from getting to the ball first.
20 min: City continue to hog the ball, playing short pass after short pass in a bid to break down their opponents but coming up short, thus far, in their efforts to find a way through the United defence.
17 min: Foden tries to tee up Josko Gvardiol for a shot with a low diagonal pass out towards the left side of the United penalty area but overhits his delivery and sends the ball out for a goal kick.
16 min: A Martinez foul on Foden gives City a free-kick about 40 yards from the United goal in a central position. De Bruyne’s delivery into the penalty area is headed out towards the touchline by Varane, who is once again in the right place at the right time. It’s a throw-in for City, deep in United territory.
14 min: A poor pass from Onana in the direction of Diogo Dalot is intercepted by Phil Foden, who is on the stretch and can only put the ball out for a throw-in.
12 min: City continue to press and probe, then Kevin De Bruyne sends a cross into the United penalty area from the left. Raphael Varane is perfectly placed to head the ball clear before it reaches Haaland and Lisandro Martinez hacks it upfield.
Source: theguardian.com
