Ten Hag grabs second prize with United, city rival City wins FA Cup final
NOS Football–
Erik ten Hag was unable to end his first season as Manchester United coach with a second prize. At Wembley, his team lost the FA Cup final to city rival City 2-1.
“I am heartbroken, just like my players,” Ten Hag said afterwards. “But I’m also proud of my team.”
In late February, United had won the League Cup, the first top prize for the club since 2017. City, which became champions of England two weeks ago, can complete the “treble” next Saturday if it also wins the Champions League final against Internazionale.
Ilkay Gündogan scored both City goals. The first of them was in after only 12 seconds, the fastest goal ever in an FA Cup final.
A long ball from goalkeeper Stefan Ortega (who has been replacing first goalkeeper Ederson all season in the FA Cup) landed at the feet of Gündogan via Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, who scored with a beautiful volley from outside the sixteen.
United was stricken and almost immediately suffered a second sledgehammer blow, but a header by Rodri went just wide.
Ten Hag watched it all with a deep frown. His team was overwhelmed and it threatened to be a very nasty afternoon for the red section of sold-out Wembley.
United survived the opening stages, however, and slowly got into the game a little better. After half an hour of play, a sparse attack even earned United the equalizer.
An unfortunate handball by Jack Grealish meant – after intervention by VAR – a penalty kick for United, which was shot in masterfully by captain Bruno Fernandes.
Ten Hag proud of United despite defeat against Aké’s City: ‘Fantastic season’
The tie also balanced the match. There was no more one-way traffic and in the last minutes before halftime it was even United that provided most of the danger.
Early in the second half, City regained the lead and again Gündogan scored with a volley. The German was able to strike undisturbed from the edge of the sixteen after a free kick from De Bruyne.
Gündogan did not hit ball as beautifully as he did with his first goal, but again United goalkeeper David de Gea had no answer.
United straightened its back again. Marcus Rashford and substitute Alejandro Garnacho were close to an equalizer for United. Ten Hag also brought on Wout Weghorst as another battering ram.
City coach Pep Guardiola brought on Nathan Aké as a replacement for Jack Grealish just before the end, to strengthen his defense. Things almost went wrong for City, but a header by Scott McTominay in injury time went just over.
