The FA Cup
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace1Man UtdManchester United2

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United (aet)

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Wembley Stadium

Manchester United came from behind and survived Chris Smalling's sending-off to beat Crystal Palace and win the FA Cup at Wembley through Jesse Lingard's extra-time strike.

As Wembley was awash with growing speculation this this would be Louis van Gaal's final match as United manager - with BBC Sport understanding he will be replaced by Jose Mourinho next week - he was able to add English football's most glamorous cup to his honours list.

United looked on course to end the season empty-handed as well as missing out on Champions League football when substitute Jason Puncheon's powerful far-post finish put Palace ahead with 12 minutes left.

It was harsh on United, who had hit the woodwork through Marouane Fellaini and Antony Martial, but they responded within four minutes with a brilliant run from Wayne Rooney that ended with Juan Mata scoring from close range.

United lost Smalling to a second yellow card for hauling back Yannick Bolasie in extra time - but Lingard took the trophy to Old Trafford when he lashed home a first-time strike from Damien Delaney's half-clearance after 110 minutes.

Van Gaal's winning farewell?

Man Utd manager Louis van Gaal lifts the FA Cup trophy as former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson joyfully looks on
Man Utd manager Louis van Gaal lifts the FA Cup trophy as former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson joyfully looks on

All the messages in and around Wembley before and during this FA Cup final pointed to this Wembley showpiece marking the end of Van Gaal's largely undistinguished two-year spell in charge.

When his expected replacement with Mourinho is confirmed, the 64-year-old Dutchman can at least take pleasure and credit for returning United to trophy-winning ways for the first time since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

And this was another performance in a manner that has become their FA Cup template this season, driving on through periods of adversity to eventually come out of the other side victorious, something for which Van Gaal deserves praise.

They won at West Ham in a quarter-final replay then survived a comeback from a resurgent Everton to win the semi-final with Antony Martial's late winner.

And here they shrugged off Smalling's red card to show real resilience and character.

It was a victory that clearly meant so much to Van Gaal as the normally impassive manager raced from his seat in the technical area to celebrate Lingard's winner.

In what appears to be his last act as manager, it was one that illustrates he will leave on a high.

FA Cup woe continues for Pardew

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew was unhappy at Mark Clattenburg not allowing play to go on after three Manchester United fouls
Palace manager Alan Pardew was unhappy at Mark Clattenburg not allowing play to go on after three Manchester United fouls

This was another day of FA Cup heartbreak for Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, whose day will be remembered as much for his rather eccentric dance moves when Puncheon put his side ahead as well as a third final defeat.

Pardew was a member of the Palace side that lost in a replay to United at Wembley in 1990 and was in charge of West Ham when they were hit by Steven Gerrard's famous late equaliser in Cardiff that set the stage for Liverpool to beat the Hammers on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

For four minutes here he must have thought the tide had turned but it was not to be - and the music stopped for the dancing Pardew when Lingard's crisp finish flew past helpless Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.

Rooney leads from the front

Rooney led Manchester United up the Wembley steps to collect the FA Cup and add a missing medal to his collection - a richly deserved accolade.

The England international may not have been at his best but it was his intervention when United had their backs to the wall and trailed that dragged them back into a cup final they were in danger of losing.

He drifted past four Palace players and took on two more before crossing to the far post, where Fellaini touched on for Mata to score. It was a momentum-shifting moment.

Rooney may have his critics but he proved once again he retains the ability to influence the big games.

Clattenburg cast as villain

Referee Mark Clattenburg was the villain of the piece for Crystal Palaces fans for his poor application of the advantage rule in the first half that stopped a promising position involving Connor Wickham when he was clear after being fouled by Smalling.

Clattenburg pulled play back and infuriated Pardew a second time when Joel Ward carried on in a promising position despite being fouled by Marcos Rojo, only to be stopped in full flow by the official.

There was no doubt about Smalling's dismissal. He had to go for a crude drag back on Bolasie when he was beaten for possession and resorted to rugby methods.

Man of the match - Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney celebrates winning the FA Cup
Wayne Rooney celebrates winning the FA Cup for the first time in his career

Manager reaction

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, speaking before BBC Sport broke the news of Mourinho's expected appointment: "It is fantastic to win this title for the club, for the fans, and also for me because I now have won the cup in four countries, and not many managers have done that.

"We had 10 players, and we have played Tuesday evening also, but we have deserved it I think."

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew: "My players gave everything. Everything. And they deserved to win but the game is like that.

"We had a couple of decisions that went against us, big time. Connor was through, Wilfried had a penalty but I'm not going to bleat. It was a great performance from both teams, great final."

FA Cup final: Palace gave everything - Alan Pardew

The stats you need to know

  • Manchester United have now won the FA Cup on 12 occasions, equalling Arsenal's record.
  • Louis van Gaal is the third Dutch manager to win the FA Cup, after Guus Hiddink and Ruud Gullit.
  • Jesse Lingard's winner was his first goal in 18 games in competitions.
  • Chris Smalling is the fourth player - and the first from England - to be sent off in an FA Cup final final (Kevin Moran 1985, Jose Reyes 2005 and Pablo Zabaleta 2013).
  • Manchester United have won both FA Cup finals in which they had a player sent off (1985 and 2016).
EaglesManchester United fansPalace fansPalace fans

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 13Hennessey
  • 2Ward
  • 6DannBooked at 47minsSubstituted forMariappaat 90+4'minutes
  • 27DelaneyBooked at 62mins
  • 23Souaré
  • 7CabayeSubstituted forPuncheonat 72'minutes
  • 15Jedinak
  • 11Zaha
  • 18McArthurBooked at 108mins
  • 10Bolasie
  • 21WickhamSubstituted forGayleat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Speroni
  • 3Mariappa
  • 16Gayle
  • 25Adebayor
  • 26Sako
  • 34Kelly
  • 42Puncheon

Man Utd

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1de Gea
  • 25A Valencia
  • 12SmallingBooked at 105mins
  • 17Blind
  • 5RojoBooked at 40minsSubstituted forDarmianat 66'minutes
  • 16Carrick
  • 8MataBooked at 45minsSubstituted forLingardat 90'minutesBooked at 111mins
  • 27FellainiBooked at 101mins
  • 10RooneyBooked at 87mins
  • 9Martial
  • 39RashfordSubstituted forYoungat 72'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Jones
  • 18Young
  • 20Romero
  • 21Herrera
  • 28Schneiderlin
  • 35Lingard
  • 36Darmian
Referee:
Mark Clattenburg
Attendance:
88,619

Match Stats

Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamMan Utd
Possession
Home33%
Away67%
Shots
Home14
Away24
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home8
Away12
Fouls
Home19
Away19

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Manchester United 2.

  2. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Crystal Palace 1, Manchester United 2.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Crystal Palace. Wayne Hennessey tries a through ball, but Damien Delaney is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Joel Ward.

  5. Post update

    Offside, Crystal Palace. Adrian Mariappa tries a through ball, but Damien Delaney is caught offside.

  6. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  7. Post update

    Delay in match David de Gea (Manchester United) because of an injury.

  8. Post update

    David de Gea (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joel Ward.

  11. Post update

    Hand ball by Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace).

  12. Post update

    Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.

  15. Booking

    Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

  16. Goal!

    Goal! Crystal Palace 1, Manchester United 2. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Michael Carrick (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jesse Lingard with a cross.

  18. Post update

    Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).

  20. Booking

    James McArthur (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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