Manchester United won the FA Cup after beating Manchester City 1:2

Manchester City – Manchester United 2:1

Scorer for City: Doku (87); Scorers for United: Granacho (30), Mayno (39)

Manchester United experienced a bad season, including their worst position in the league in 34 years, the most losses since the mid-seventies and other such negative records. But the last game of the season was especially sweet – winning the FA Cup (for the 13th time, second only to Arsenal with 14), not only for the first time since 2016, but in the derby tonight (Saturday) against Manchester City. She prevented the ‘noisy neighbor’ from a second consecutive double and also avenged the loss against her in the final against City last season, with 1:2 to United in a game where she deserved to win the cup.

City wanted a second domestic double in a row – unprecedented – and also a third win in the same season over United, which had not been done for 55 years. She was of course the favorite, but a cup final, and also a derby, often develops differently than expected. Mateo Kovacic started in the lineup at the expense of Jeremy Duko, and Nathan Ake and John Stones started in the center of City’s defense at the expense of Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji. Opposite, in the absence of Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, in his last game for United, came up in the heart of the defense. Marcus Rashford returned to the attacking part, with Bruno Fernandes stepping up as an all-round striker while Rasmus Hoylund remained on the bench.

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The game started at a very good pace, City of course possessed the ball much more and also created situations. But United, in bursts and with more precision, were far more dangerous and also punished City for mistakes. Yoshko Gabbardiol tried to intercept a long ball delivered to Alejandro Grancho. He hit it back to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, but his poor release led to the ball being missed – and Granacho pushed in against the empty goal that opened in front of him. Nine minutes later United scored their second; City’s defense dreamed again, and Bruno fed Kobi Maino who found the net without difficulty.

Pep Guardiola already replaced Kovacic with Doku and Ake Bakanji at halftime. The substitutions, along with a more defensive game by United, brought pressure on the champions. Doku set up a ball for Arling Holland which the Norwegian sent to the crossbar, Andre Unana saved a good kick from Kyle Walker.

City’s pressure was increasing, and in the 87th minute Zymek Duko scored with a powerful kick from distance after Phil Foden’s header and a mistake by Onana who jumped late. City came closer to equalizing but couldn’t get it. The victory ensured United also participation in the Europa League and left Newcastle out of the European Cups, while Chelsea will only play in the Conference League. It may have been the last game of Eric Ten Haag as the team’s coach, but no one will take that title away from him.