Ten-man Man Utd win the FA Cup

Jason Puncheon left the Eagles with one hand on the
cup with a late goal, but Juan Mata struck back
instantly before the young winger wrote his name
into the history booksA brilliant strike from Jesse
Lingard took Manchester United to their first
silverware in almost three years, as the Red Devils
triumphed 2-1 over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup
final.
United fell behind to substitute Jason Puncheon's
78th-minute strike, but Juan Mata levelled within
180 seconds to take the game to extra time.
Chris Smalling – earlier embroiled in controversy
after hauling back a goal-bound Connor Wickham –
saw red just before the end of the first additional
15 minutes following a foul on Yannick Bolasie, but
substitute Lingard proved the Reds hero as
they etched their name on the famous trophy for a
record-equalling 12th time and first since
2004, casting aside pre-match speculation that Van
Gaal is to be replaced by Jose Mourinho.
The Dutchman's failure to steer United into the
Champions League is a key catalyst for his likely exit,
but the 64-year-old can at least boast a major
honour from his two-year tenure after Saturday's
deserved victory.
However, it was heartbreak for Palace and their boss
Alan Pardew, who played when the club last reached
the Cup final – United prevailing back in 1990 after a
replay – and managed West Ham in their 2006
penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.
United controlled the first half and hit the
woodwork twice in the second
period through Marouane Fellaini and Anthony
Martial, before Puncheon stunned them with a fine
near-post finish.



But the London club's joy was cut short, Mata's
deflected volley squeezing through Joel Ward's legs
on the line in the 81st minute before Lingard –
on for the Spanish goalscorer in stoppage time –
was cast in the role of match-winner in a result that
sent the Hammers into the Europa League.
Van Gaal welcomed back Fellaini from suspension,
with Mata handed a start, while Palace returned to a
more familiar starting XI after making numerous
changes for the 4-1 loss to Southampton.

United, who finished the Premier League season
later than scheduled on Tuesday after the bomb
scare prior to their final game against AFC
Bournemouth, made a bright start following a kick-
off delayed by the pre-match entertainment.
Wayne Hennessey twice claimed excellent catches
from searching crosses to calm any nerves, while
Marcus Rashford – who hobbled off injured at the
end of a week in which he was named in England's
provisional Euro 2016 squad – forced a timely
intervention from Pape Souare after a strong run
and shot.

Palace sprung forward on a rare 18th-
minute counter-attack and saw Wickham pulled back
by Smalling, with Pardew livid at referee
Mark Clattenburg's decision to stop play as his
forward had managed to shrug off the defender and
roll the ball into an empty net after the whistle had
gone.

David De Gea tipped the subsequent free-kick over
the crossbar and Mata almost rubbed salt in the
wounds with a skidding effort that Hennessey clawed
away midway through the half.

A deft turn from Rashford had Palace chasing back in
desperation as the teenager's cross was
steered goalwards by Martial and Ward made the
block.

Ex-United winger Wilfried Zaha saw his run into the
box halted by a recovering Wayne Rooney, the
United captain proving his value at both ends of the
field in a deeper role that looks set to become his
forte.

Fellaini – who scored in the semi-final win
over Everton – served notice of his intent early in
the second half, rifling a shot against the frame of
the goal and past a motionless Hennessey, who saw
Martial's header strike the left-hand post just past
the hour mark.

Rashford was forced off 20 minutes from time and
replaced by Ashley Young, while Palace swapped
Yohan Cabaye for Puncheon, whose one-touch
control and fierce finish broke the deadlock to
prompt a touchline jig from Pardew.

His apparently rehearsed moves were quickly put on
the back-burner, though, as Mata wiped out that
lead, though Zaha – pictured in tears prior to the
game – could have snatched a winner when he fired
into the side netting at the death.

Bolasie drilled wide in the first half of extra time,
while Smalling got his marching orders just before
the break, but United shrugged off that setback as
Lingard lashed home brilliantly from 18 yards in the
110th minute to salvage an otherwise uninspiring
season for the Old Trafford club.