Louis van Gaal delivered Manchester United’s first trophy since Alex Ferguson retired three years ago with a 2-1 victory over Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak’s Crystal Palace after the 135th FA Cup final went to extra time.
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Palace skipper Jedinak became the first Australian to lead a team out in an FA Cup final on Saturday (Sunday AEST) at Wembley where Jesse Lingard completed United’s comeback with a volley in the 110th minute.
United’s record-equalling 12th triumph in world football’s oldest cup competition comes at the end of a lacklustre second season under van Gaal.
The manager’s United future has seemed precarious for more than six months, and failure to qualify for the Champions League has only added to the uncertainty.
But United showed the fighting spirit often lacking under van Gaal to provide a winning end to the campaign.
“We’ve had a tough end to the season but I thought we worked very hard today – our determination got us through this so I’m delighted,” United captain Wayne Rooney said.
“It’s been a (while). It’s not always great of course.
“Winning trophies lifts football clubs and lifts supporters. The fans have had a tough few years. Hopefully they enjoy tonight.”
Alan Pardew won’t.
The Palace manager produced a giddy jig on the touchline after Jason Puncheon put the London club ahead in the 78th minute, but Juan Mata equalised within three minutes to force extra time.
Even being reduced to 10 men, when Chris Smalling was sent off in the 105th, did not dampen United’s resolve.
Lingard, who replaced Mata at the end of regular time, produced the winner five minutes later to deny Palace a first major trophy.
It is the first time United has won the FA Cup since 2004 – one of 38 major trophies Ferguson won as manager from 1986 to 2013.
Ferguson’s immediate successor, David Moyes, was fired after less than a year in charge.
Van Gaal has managed to end the club’s rare trophy drought, and the Dutchman has titles in four countries in management.
“Not many managers can say that,” the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach said.
marron
Guest
+2 for the scottish cup. I enjoyed the pitch invasion.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
I lived in Brighton UK for two years from 2005 to 2007 and the first English football game i got taken to was Palace away at Selhurst park when they were both in the Championship. I had no idea the intensity of the rivalry between the two and my mates thought it would be funny to not inform me of said rivalry, the most intense atmosphere i've experienced. Was in Stuttgart only months later in that famous game against Croatia and to be fair that gave it a run for it's money, though i didn't feel i might die in Stuttgart!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Best fans in England. They combine the best aspects of English style active support with the raw energy of European support. Mind you it's not very hard to be the best fans in the EPL haha The atmosphere in Berlin was deafening.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
The Palace fans did their bit, is their a noisier set of fans in the UK at the moment?. Leeds were always a noisey mob but can't see them seeing them in a such a showpiece seems far fetched atm.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Agree watched the Scottish cup final last night and really enjoyed it. Watched the FA cup today and thought it was a great game as well. Would have been nice to see an Australian being handed the cup as captain but wasn't to be, poor old Mile looked gutted walking up the chase.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Haven't come across many disappointed in this cup final. Arguably the second best of the 5 big finals last night. Might not have had the atmosphere of some of the other finals but still a narrative to the game.
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
Really enjoyed this FA Cup final. On a knife's edge for the full 120 minutes. United hit the upright twice. Palace had 2 moments that could have ended in goals had the ref played the advantage rule rather than stopping the game for a foul. Additionally, de Gea saved several shots that would've sealed the match for the Londoners. Palace went up with 12 minutes to play. United equalise 170 seconds later. United look likely to find the winner; Smalling gets sent off. United score a cracker. Palace equaliser saved by de Gea's brilliance. If people found this match a bore, makes me wonder what they want from a football match.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Went through some of the cup finals from last night. Surprisingly the Scottish final was the best. Pretty decent quality of football and great see-sawing contest. Both teams came out to play which isn't often the case with cup football. Well done Hibs. Another great story in 2016. What happened after full time was disgraceful. Less said about that the better. DFB Pokal final was decent but nothing special. Bayern were at their typical dominant standard but Dortmund took a leaf out of Atleti's book and defended with everything they had. Sokratis put in an amazing performance over 120mins and it was heartbreaking to see him miss a crucial penalty. Eric Durm was excellent as well. Marco Reus went missing. Bayern deserved to win. FA Cup final was a bore for the first 80mins. But the final 40mins more than made up for it. It really was a huge opportunity for Palace to do a Wigan here. They were really competitive and should be proud of their performance. Good to see Lingard come through and have a breakthrough season where he made over 40 appearances. I didn't watch all of the Coppa Italia final but the 30mins I watched didn't do much for me. Bit too cagey for my liking. Copa Del Rey final in a few hours. Gotta love world football.