Jesse Lingard’s extra-time thunderbolt earned Manchester United a record-equalling 12th FA Cup as Louis van Gaal’s side came from behind to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 in Saturday’s final at Wembley.
In a rematch of the 1990 final, which United won after a replay, underdogs Palace took the lead in the 78th minute when Jason Puncheon slammed home, only for Juan Mata to equalise less than three minutes later.
With the tie heading towards penalties, substitute Lingard drilled a stunning volley past a motionless Wayne Hennessey in the 110th minute to end United’s 12-year wait to lift the FA Cup and give their supporters something to cheer about at the end of a tumultuous season.
“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,” Van Gaal said.
“With 10 players, and we have played Tuesday evening also (beating Bournemouth 3-1), but we have deserved it, I think. It was a super goal, eh?”
Lingard told BT Sport: “I saw it come across and it landed nicely for me. All I had to do was hit it sweet, and luckily I did that. As a sub you always have to be ready. Thankfully I was.”
It was United’s first FA Cup win since 2004, allowing captain Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick to complete their domestic medal collections, and took them level with Arsenal, winners in 2014 and 2015, as the most successful clubs in the competition’s illustrious history.
But while Van Gaal celebrated his first trophy in English football, and United’s first major honour since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, it may not be enough to keep him in a job following the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Instead United, who lost Marcus Rashford and Marcos Rojo to injury and Chris Smalling to an extra-time red card, will go into the Europa League, along with West Ham United, after United’s Wembley win freed up an extra qualifying berth.
Palace manager Alan Pardew, meanwhile, met with FA Cup heartbreak for the third time, having been on the losing side against United with the south London club in 1990 and overseen West Ham’s defeat on penalties by Liverpool in 2006.
United enjoyed the best of the first half, but Pardew was infuriated when referee Mark Clattenburg brought play back for a free-kick despite Connor Wickham jumping to his feet and racing into the box after being dragged to the turf by Smalling, who was booked.
United’s control was even more pronounced after half-time as Van Gaal’s men succeeded in pinning Palace back and they hit the woodwork twice in the space of eight minutes through Marouane Fellaini’s drilled shot and Anthony Martial’s header.
Injuries then deprived United of Rojo and Rashford, with Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young coming on, while Puncheon replaced Yohan Cabaye.
The Palace substitute made an immediate impact. His 78th-minute corner from the left was headed away by Fellaini, but Joel Ward helped the ball back into the box and Puncheon brought it down before blasting a vicious left-foot shot past David de Gea at his near post.
Pardew celebrated with a touchline dance, but within three minutes Palace’s lead had vanished.
Rolling back the years, Rooney did superbly to reach the byline on the right before digging out a cross that was chested down at the back post by Fellaini for Mata to strike a volley that rattled between Ward’s feet and crept over the line.
United lost Smalling when the England centre-back received a second yellow card for hauling Bolasie back by his ankle as he lay on the turf.
The teams exchanged chances in the second extra period — De Gea thwarting substitute Dwight Gayle with his feet, Carrick heading wide — before United academy graduate Lingard, a 90th-minute replacement for Mata, claimed a piece of FA Cup history.
Antonio Valencia’s drilled cross was cleared by Damien Delaney, but the ball popped up for Lingard, who sent a volley whistling into the top-left corner before tearing off his shirt and racing towards the United end in gleeful celebration.Manchester United will appoint Jose Mourinho as their new manager, BBC Sport reports.
It is believed a deal with the 53-year-old Portuguese and former Chelsea Manager, was agreed in principle before United’s FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With United failing to qualify for the Champions League under Louis van Gaal, the Old Trafford hierarchy is thought to have decided a change is required.
Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in December.
The club plan to announce his arrival early next week after telling Van Gaal, 64, his reign has come to an end.
The Dutchman still has one season remaining on his three-year deal, but despite spending £250m on new players, his tenure has disappointed many fans, the club finishing fourth and then fifth in the Premier League.
Van Gaal’s grip on his job has seemed increasingly fragile this season, with Mourinho known to covet the task of masterminding a revival at United three years after legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.
Mourinho is one of the game’s most successful coaches, winning three league titles in his two spells at Stamford Bridge, as well as guiding Porto and Inter Milan to Champions League victories in 2004 and 2010 respectively.
He also led Real Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title in 2012, and his arrival will mean a mouthwatering resumption of his rivalry with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard will take over at United’s arch-rivals Manchester City this summer.
Having sacked previous manager David Moyes just 10 months after he succeeded Ferguson, United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward was desperate for Van Gaal to see out his contract.
Some senior figures at United were also known to have serious reservations about the prospect of the controversial Mourinho, with some preferring Ryan Giggs as an alternative.
The Welshman, who made a record 963 appearances for the club, took over as manager on an interim basis in April 2014 following the sacking of Moyes, and was understood to be keen on the job.
In February however, BBC Sport revealed that United had held talks with Mourinho’s representatives, and they have now come to fruition.
Woodward – and United’s American owners, the Glazer family – still hoped Van Gaal would lead the club to a top four finish, and up until last month Mourinho’s advisers were concerned the club might remain loyal to the Dutch coach.
But fans were not convinced by Van Gaal’s tactics. The club’s 49 goals in the Premier League this season was United’s lowest total since 1989-90, coincidentally a season that also ended with an FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace.
There were occasional high points, not least Van Gaal’s theatrical dive in front of the dug-outs during the 3-2 win over Arsenal in February as he accused the Gunners of diving.
But since collecting only three points in six games at the end of 2015, Van Gaal has been under intense pressure.
He has accused the media and former players of “sacking him”, and cited injuries as the reason why United have been unable to sustain a title challenge.
Nevertheless, Van Gaal’s side still had Champions League qualification in their own hands 14 minutes from the end of their penultimate Premier League game at West Ham, only to concede two late goals, lose 3-2 and allow Manchester City to claim the fourth qualifying slot.
And, after members of the United hierarchy suggested in December that the season was 80% about the Premier League, it is the failure to qualify for the Champions League that has appeared to seal Van Gaal’s fate.
Despite his track record, some will question United’s decision to appoint Mourinho.
He was sacked by Chelsea in December just seven months after leading them to the Premier League title, with their season overshadowed by a spectacular slump in form and issues off the pitch that included a public fallout with club doctor Eva Carneiro.
Ultimately however, United appear to have decided it is a risk worth taking.
Mourinho has never hidden his admiration for United, and for Ferguson. Now it seems he will have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
The appointment will mean some long overdue issues can be dealt with, not least whether the club’s second longest-serving player Michael Carrick should be awarded a new contract.
It remains to be seen what Giggs will do.
Having served under Moyes and Van Gaal, the prospect of continuing his apprenticeship under a third United boss may not appeal.
It remains to be seen whether the club can find an alternative role for their most decorated player.
Giggs would not be short of offers if he decided to join the management ranks.
But many of the Welshman’s former team-mates – most recently close friend Gary Neville at Valencia – have not found management easy.
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