Manchester United’s FA Cup Final win over Manchester City was special, and the kind of match you just want to watch again and again.
Certain moments will live on for a long time. Alejandro Garnacho terrorising Josko Gvardiol and Stefan Ortega and taking advantage of their mix-up to score United’s opener.
And the team goal which culminated in a superb finish from Kobbie Mainoo after Bruno Fernandes‘ outrageous pass. Garnacho and Mainoo became the first teenagers to score in a FA Cup Final since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.
Lost amid the brilliance of Garnacho and Mainoo, andSofyan Amrabat‘s tireless performance in midfield, were a few other key moments which deserve a little praise. You won’t have missed them, but they are worth revisiting.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s run for Kobbie Mainoo’s goal
We don’t blame you if you want to re-watch Kobbie Mainoo’s goal. There were so many moving parts to it, from Marcus Rashford‘s cross-field pass, to Garnacho’s ball to Fernandes who then laid it onto Mainoo.
The one player who didn’t touch the ball yet had an important part to play was right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaka surged forward to support Garnacho, running deep into the City box, ultimately used as a decoy.
His run forced City’s defenders to sit off, instead of trying to close Garnacho down, and allowed the winger time to pick his pass to Fernandes in the middle.
It was a true team goal, and Wan-Bissaka can be proud of the role he played in it.
Rasmus Hojlund’s brilliant hold-up play to kill the game
Julian Alvarez won’t ever want to see Rasmus Hojlund again. The Argentine striker had a nightmare, still reeling from his one-on-one miss earlier in the second half after coming on to replace Kevin de Bruyne.
Then with time running out, Alvarez found himself trying to defend high up the pitch against a fired up Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund gave Alvarez the run-around, chasing him down to win possession, then holding the ball up, and eventually drawing a foul.
This came late into stoppage time with City desperately seeking an equaliser. Seconds after the free-kick was taken, the final whistle blew.
If Hojlund had lost the ball, City could have launched one last attack and tried to force extra-time. The Dane didn’t give them a chance, and that is the proper centre-forward play Manchester United have been crying out for.
City give United players a Guard of Honour
Manchester City’s players lined up to give Manchester United’s FA Cup winners a Guard of Honour as the Red Devils climbed the steps to collect the trophy and winners medals.
It was a classy touch, and was not seen by everybody at the time, with supporters in the midst of jubilant celebrations.
City’s players have earned so many accolades and trophies themselves over the past few years, but despite that, losing to United will have really stung them.
Our players fully deserved the win, and all the resulting praise that came their way. There has not been a lot of attention in the press on the respect City’s players showed for United, and it deserves highlighting, because Erik ten Hag’s side were simply that good.