Football
Rock solid Reds stun City rivals in FA Cup Final
The 143rd FA Cup Final was a Manchester derby for only the second time, a repeat of last season’s final, in which City came out 2-1 winners thanks to the earliest goal in FA Cup Final history from İlkay Gündoğan, after just 12 seconds. City were the overwhelming favourites once again going into this fixture, having been crowned Premier League winners for a record 4th time in a row last weekend.
For a split-second viewers may have thought an early goal was coming once again when Fernandes lobbed the ball in behind the City defence for Rashford to chase. He would have had an opportunity to score if it was not for the physical freak, Walker, who powered back and beat him to the ball.
VAR had a first incident to review inside the opening minute as well. Martinez put an arm into Haaland’s back as a cross flashed passed them. Guardiola was screaming on the touchline for a penalty, but VAR deemed there was not enough in it to overturn the on-field decision.
City then proceeded to dominate the opening stages of the match, with United unable to get a kick. However, the first shot of the match came from Garnacho, out of the right, just inside the penalty area, but he fired straight at Ortega.
City were struggling to get into their groove, put off by United’s industrious midfield make-up of Amrabat, McTominay, Mainoo and Fernandes. Ten Hag’s chosen system filled out the centre of the pitch, which made it very difficult for City to find gaps, forcing them to play out wide and make errors.
The match began to heat up in the 21st minute. Ortega played an unwanted pass to Kovačić on the penalty spot of his own box, whilst United were aggressively hunting City down with a press. Trouble was avoided for City as they slickly passed their way out which led to Dalot fouling Haaland on the halfway line, stopping a promising attack. A streetwise move from Dalot who also avoided a yellow card.
Just before the half-hour mark a ball was smashed forward, looking for the run of Garnacho directly in behind the City backline. Goalkeeper Ortega rushed off his line towards the action and Gvardiol bumped Garnacho away from the ball, headed it towards goal not knowing his goalkeeper had come out to collect it himself. Garnacho then proceeded to roll the ball into the empty City net. A gift of a goal for Manchester United who took a 1-0 lead. Wembley was stunned. That defensive mix-up in communication put it on a plate for Garnacho.
United were covering every blade of grass. All of City’s passes were in front of the United defence, they were not asking many questions of them. A tame shot from distance was comfortably gathered by Onana. Varane clipped the ball over the top and Garnacho was in behind the City backline again, he picked out Rashford across goal who tapped in but the offside flag was correctly raised by the linesman.
Mainoo played the ball to Rashford who was just inside his own half, he switched play, drilling the ball diagonally to Garnacho, who arrived at the edge of the box, played the ball on the floor across to Fernandes, who then executed an exquisite pass into Mainoo, Walker was the wrong side and Mainoo coolly slotted the ball into the far-right corner. The red areas of Wembley erupted after witnessing an incredible team goal from their side. City were going for the double, but they were shocked by this first half double from United.
A trademark De Bruyne cross was flashed across goal, but Haaland was unable to meet the ball as City continued to struggle to create any good shooting opportunities. Fernandes slid in to intercept the ball from arriving at Foden’s feet on the brink of half-time and he waved his arms up at the United fans. They were half-way towards causing a big upset at Wembley.
There was nearly a chance for Rashford in the 50th minute after lovely link up and a one-two between Mainoo and Fernandes but the latter’s pass was cut out.
Foden drove the ball forward and played it to Doku, a half-time substitute for City, he rolled the ball across the box towards Haaland, who’s powerful left-footed shot rattled the crossbar, it was then cleared out of play by Garnacho. The closest City had come thus far and it gave City fans hope as they found their voices. De Bruyne, who had been unable to influence the game, fired a cross over everybody’s heads and out of play. He was then substituted after 56 minutes for Julian Alvarez, as Guardiola shuffled his pack.
So, Doku and Alvarez were on for City, two willing runners with pace and directness key components to their game. City were still plugging away and a thunderous strike from distance by Walker forced Onana into making a top class save. From the resulting corner Alvarez fired over the crossbar on his less-favoured left foot.
The next big chance of the match also fell to the young Argentinian. Rodri passed through United’s midfield line finding Foden, who slid the ball in between Martinez and Amrabat in order to create an opportunity for Alvarez, but under pressure from Dalot behind, he placed his left-footed shot wide of the goal. Both Alvarez and Guardiola placed their hands on their heads. One versus one with the goalkeeper, that was City’s best chance of the match to pull a goal back.
City screamed for a penalty in the 75th minute when Mainoo’s hands were wrapped around Haaland in the penalty box, but it was deemed fair, strong play from the United teenager and no penalty was awarded. Walker attempted another shot from distance, but it was well-saved once again by Onana down to his right. Doku was looking like City’s main threat as they began to flood the box with players.
In the 87th minute, Foden played the ball to Doku who was out on the left. He was facing Wan Bissaka and Garnacho was covering the inside. Doku took on Garncho, driving towards the edge of the box, he created half a yard for himself to get a shot off which snuck inside the near post despite Onana getting his hands on the ball. City finally pulled a goal back to make it 2-1. Doku was City’s liveliest player, but it was a shot that Onana definitely should have saved. City are a club who in recent history have always fought right until the end of important matches, they had given themselves that opportunity in this match too.
City continued to move the ball from side to side, attempting to create space for themselves. Akanji fired over from distance and Onana rushed out to gather another corner kick. Fernandes went for goal just inside the City half which went wide but it did waste valuable seconds as the clock continued to click through additional time.
The match finished 2-1 to Manchester United, a result not many would have expected. Ten Hag’s tactical masterclass came off on the day to deny his doubters any joy. Teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo was deservedly named Man of the Match. There were no double-double celebrations for Manchester City, neighbours United made sure of that. United’s poor season ended in jubilation as they lifted their 13th FA Cup, now only one behind Arsenal’s record of 14.
Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.
The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.
Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.
The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”
First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.
Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.
Robert Conway, an Eastleigh-based football fanatic has visited more than 730 football grounds across 14 countries.
He has been to 2,030 matches and counting.
A passionate fan who will attempt to watch any and every match. Eight matches in one weekend is his current record.
Robert has completed “the 92”, meaning that he has attended a match at all English football grounds in the top four divisions. He has also seen matches at all 56 professional German League grounds.
Robert has quite the collection of football memorabilia, with more than 200 scarves and 469 football shirts from the 733 grounds he has visited.
Robert’s passion for football was ignited by Blackburn Rovers in the 1990s, when Alan Shearer fired them to the Premier League title in 1995.
‘Community feeling’
Living in the south of England and travelling up to Ewood Park every other week was unfeasible for Robert, so he turned his attention to his local club, Winchester City.
Robert has been going to watch Winchester City every week, home and away for nine years and he will only miss a match if he has absolutely no choice.
Since attending his first match against Laverstock and Ford one Tuesday night, he has never looked back.
Robert “loves the community feeling” and says in a positive way that it is “just different supporting a non-league club”.
Being closer to the action comes with its benefits as Robert says he knows the manager and the players and that they all know him.
Robert describes his strong association with the club from the position of a fan as a “nice fit”.
He feels like a “very small part of the club” and that his support has an influence at Winchester City’s matches.
Fourth Division Alemannia Aachen is the German club that has also captured Robert’s heart and he is the founder of their UK supporters club.
With over 20,000 fans on average at home matches last season, it is no surprise Robert has many friends in Germany.
The greatest game
Attending their matches is “so much fun”, especially at only €12 a ticket.
The best match Robert has ever attended was Eintracht Frankfurt’s 4-4 draw at home to Hertha Berlin in December 2014.
Frankfurt fell three goals behind but then managed to salvage a point thanks to two last-gasp stoppage time goals from local hero Alex Meier, who Robert said would “forever be my favourite player”.
“The place just went absolutely crazy.”
Frankfurt even had a final chance right at the end to win the match which went a yard wide.
Robert said that if it had gone in, he would have “never been able to go to a game ever again as nothing would have ever compared”.
Having been to the San Siro, Signal Iduna Park and Como’s ground, Borussia Neunkirchen is now the dream destination that Robert has yet to visit.
He has been trying to get to their “fantastic, massive, old, crumbly, concrete stadium”, for many years.
Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final was meaningful. The 10th at Wembley Stadium, which sold out in record time with an attendance of 76,000, just shy of last year’s record. It was the first WFA Cup Final in Tottenham Hotspur’s history. Manchester United were still searching for their first major trophy having been beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in last season’s final. The Reds were hoping to go one better after overcoming Chelsea 2-1 in the semi-finals this time around. A new winner of the competition was set to be crowned and it was the first time since 2014 (when Liverpool won the WSL) that a domestic trophy would not be swept up by one of the dominant trio of Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City.
Manchester United came into the match as favourites, a more experienced side, sitting higher in the league table than Spurs and having taken their revenge against Chelsea in the previous round; they were rightly feeling confident. Spurs who have made huge progress this season under Robert Vilahamn, were unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions and had never made the semi-finals of the WFA Cup before, let alone the final.
The first shot of the match was fired over by Spurs’ Vinberg as Toone struggled to get across to block the shot. Spurs goalkeeper Spencer was quick off her line in the 2nd minute to smother Galton, after she linked up nicely in a one-two with Toone following a perfectly weighted pass. The resulting corner kick presented a golden opportunity for Williams, who despite making a great connection with the ball, could not keep her header under the cross bar.
It was a strong start by the Reds, with intense pressing, and sharp passing. Williams met the next corner as well, using her body exceptionally well despite being only 5’6”, but her header was directed wide.
Spurs put some nice passes together in the 14th minute, which led to Neville cutting back onto her left foot and delivering a curled cross, but it was just too high for Vinberg whose header went over the bar.
Toone stunner
The third corner of the match was met by a United head again. Turner headed it back across goal towards Garcia, but Summanen was brave and flew into a collision with Garcia, heading the ball over the crossbar.
Spurs grew in confidence after United’s strong start. Martha Thomas blocked a shot on the line in the 33rd min from a Millie Turner header after a great leap, the closest either side had come to scoring thus far.
Come the 40th minute, Spurs looked as though they were beginning to tire, losing 50:50s, and struggling to string passes together. In the final minute of first half added time, Naz gave the ball away cheaply up the pitch towards the corner flag, which gave United an opportunity to build a counter-attack. The ball was swiftly moved forward and found Toone, who had run from her own box. She picked the ball up just inside the Spurs half and carried it forward. Toone shimmied away from a sliding Spurs player and curled a beautiful shot into the top right corner to put the Reds in front. Spencer in goal had no chance. Seconds before half-time, it was a fantastic time to score. Spurs had done so well to contain United but couldn’t keep it level as the half-time whistle arrived.
During the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Spurs came out playing strongly in the United half, but they were still struggling to create many chances. Refereeing decisions were also noticeably going in United’s favour.
Garcia double
In the 54th minute, a free kick out on the right-hand side was driven into the box by captain Zelem and this time Williams’ powerful header found the far corner of the net. The red areas of Wembley erupted as United’s lead was doubled. Williams fell to the ground in celebration and her teammates bundled on top of her. After a good start to the second half, it now looked like a very tough task for Spurs to come back into this game.
Spurs responded to the second goal immediately, creating an opportunity, but England fired high and wide. In the 57th minute a routine back pass to Spurs goalkeeper Spencer led to a 3rd United goal, as instead of clearing her lines, Spencer’s attempted pass across goal was cut out and turned into the net by Garcia. A huge error which left Spurs rattled. United were in dreamland, on their way to their first WFA Cup triumph.
United came forward two more times around the hour mark. Then five minutes later, there was a purposeful dribble forward from Spurs sub, Bizet, she turned and found Nildén out on the left wing. Nildén crossed into the box and it was met by England, who directed her header goalward, but it crashed against the crossbar. The closest Tottenham had come, after great movement from England to get away from her marker. It was evident that it was not Spurs’ day.
United sub, Malard raced through on goal in the 72nd minute, however Spencer redeemed herself, her perfect positioning helped her to make a strong stop to her right.
Garcia made it 4-0 to Manchester United in the 74th minute. Just inside the box, the ball was laid across to her by Naalsund and despite leaning back, off balance, her left footed shot found the roof of the net. The travelling Manchester United fans behind the goal were being absolutely spoilt.
The final score was 4-0 at Wembley. Spurs competed well for the majority, but the match was decided by fine margins. The Reds were clinical. A fantastic final’s performance by Marc Skinner’s team allowed their fans to travel home jubilant. A well-earned first piece of silverware for Manchester United. For Spurs, it proved to be a step too far for the team at this stage of their development, but the fantastic achievement of reaching the WFA Cup Final gives much promise for a successful future with more improvement to come.
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