As it happened: FA Cup final
Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling scored braces while David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne got a goal apiece to help Manchester City secure a 6-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup final.
Published : May 18, 2019 21:29 IST
Manchester City completed the domestic treble with a 6-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup final at the Wembley Stadium.
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Manchester City's FA Cup win means it will face Liverpool, the team which finished second in the Premier League, in the 2019 Community Shield, the traditional curtain raiser for the season.
Full-time: Referee Kevin Friend blows the final whistle and Manchester City completes the domestic treble with a 6-0 thumping of Watford in the FA Cup final.
87' GOAL! Raheem Sterling makes it 6-0! Kevin de Bruyne is the creator again, his brilliant cutback finds the English winger in a central position. Sterling's first-time effort is saved brilliantly by Heurelho Gomes, who deflects the ball onto the post and the ricochet falls kindly for Sterling to convert.
85' Man City players passing the ball around confidently and Watford players aren't closing down as much as they did at the start of the half.
80' GOAL! Raheem Sterling with the easy finish this time, sidefooting a cross delivered on a plate by Bernardo Silva from the left.
73' Substitution: Leroy Sane replaces Ilkay Gundogan with Man City in complete control. Javi Gracia makes Watford's third and final substitution by bringing on Tom Cleverley for Will Hughes.
71' SAVED! Ederson keeps out Issac Success' header at full stretch before Etienne Capoue's shot is blocked on the edge of the area.
68' GOAL! Gabriel Jesus scores his second and Man City is running riot here. Gabriel Jesus wins an aerial ball near the halfway line before collecting the pass from Kevin de Bruyne with no Watford defender to challenge him. He runs through unchallenged and applies a cool finish to put City 4-0 up.
66' Double substitution for Watford: Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra make way for Andre Gray and Isaac Success respectively.
59' GOAL! And just as Watford looked like it was getting close to halving Man City's lead, it concedes on the counterattack. Kevin de Bruyne shows great composure to dummy Heurelho Gomes after being played in by Raheem Sterling from the left. He slots home calmly to put Man City 3-0 up and Watford needs a miracle. Jose Holebas failed to win a header near the centre circle; Gabriel Jesus's persistence sets Sterling away and the England winger selflessly squares the ball for de Bruyne to slot home.
57' Kevin de Bruyne announces his arrival with a wonderful cross from the right, but it's cleared before Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus gets on the end of it. The following corner is headed marginally wide by Aymeric Laporte.
55' Substitution: Kevin de Bruyne replaces Riyad Mahrez, which means Bernardo Silva switches to the right with the Belgian slotting into midfield.
53' Vincent Kompany with a defensive header after Jose Holebas produces a wonderful delivery from a free-kick from City's right-hand side. This has been a good response from the Hornets. Watford has had a lot of the ball in the last five minutes: it leads City in ball possession by 53% to 47%.
47' A lightning quick counterattack from City nearly culminates in Gabriel Jesus extending the lead but Heurelho Gomes makes a good low save. City surged from back to front in a flash with David Silva starting the counter with a pass for Raheem Sterling on the edge of the Watford box. The winger lets the ball roll past him with two Watford defenders snapping at his heels and then drives into acres of space before passing to Gabriel Jesus on the left flank. The Brazilian takes a couple of touch and pulls the trigger with his left foot but the angle was against him and Gomes makes a good save to deny Jesus and City.
46' The players are back out for the second half. Remember, Watford came from two goals down against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semifinal. On that occasion, Gerard Deulofeu sparked the turnaround with a delightful goal. The Hornets will look up to the Spaniard again to claw the way back into the match.
First-half stats Shots on target Man City 4-1 Watford Possession Man City 74%-26% Watford Corners Man City 9-1 Watford Fouls Man City 4-2 Watford |
Half-time: Manchester City takes a two-goal lead into the break after Watford made a strong start and Roberto Pereyra went close to giving the Hornets the lead. David Silva put City ahead against the run of play, after which Pep Guardiola's team asserted control and Gabriel Jesus consolidated City's position with the simplest of finishes towards the end of the half.
45' Corner for Watford. Jose Holebas swings it in from the right-hand side, Ederson is unable to collect the delivery and palms it away. Gerard Deulofeu picks up the loose ball and dribbles into the area from the left, but he's crowded out by the City defence.
39' GOAL! Gabriel Jesus doubles Man City's advantage with the simplest of finishes after a delicious cross from Bernardo Silva, who was afforded time to pick out his team-mate on the left-hand side. Jesus gets his toe and directs the ball goalwards, it was going in but Raheem Sterling wanted to make sure it went in, intervenes and lashes the ball into the net. Jesus, though, is credited with the goal. Jesus is making his 100th Man City appearance and he marks the landmark appearance with a goal.
36' A cross from Kyle Walker from the right, trying to find a City player at the backpost. But Will Hughes heads the ball clear and concedes a corner. Ilkay Gundogan delivers from the left again, but City has once again not made the most of a setplay.
34' Man City has asserted control of this final. It is seeing a lot more of the ball and is benefitting from Watford trying to play too quickly and losing possession in key areas. The match is still wide open and City is only one goal up.
26' GOAL! David Silva volleys home and the ball takes a deflection before nestling into the far corner. The goal comes against the run of play. Raheem Sterling sets up for a curling effort from just outside the area and his effort is blocked. Watford fails to clear the bouncing ball and the ball falls kindly for David Silva, who finds himself onside and volleys it to the right bottom corner. It is the Spanish playmaker's first goal of 2019 as well! What a time to get on
22' Abdoulaye Doucoure with a left-footed effort that appears to hit Vincent Kompany on the arm, Watford players certain it was handball and appeal for a penalty. The referee Kevin Friend is certain that the City captain had his arm tucked in and it wasn't a penalty. Watford players continue to remonstrate and Gerard Deulofeu sees a yellow card.
16' City enjoying plenty of possession and is constructing a majority of its attacks from Watford's left, where Riyad Mahrez hasn't had much joy.
12' Bernardo Silva with a low attempt from the right-hand edge of the box and, while his effort is on target, he doesn't test Gomes in Watford goal.
10' Gabriel Jesus has the first big chance for City and his attempt is blocked. Immediately after, at the other end, Roberto Pereyra finds himself one-on-one with Ederson, but doesn't manage to finish off the chance. Ederson with a brilliant save with his right foot.
6' Riyad Mahrez delivers a first-time cross from the right and David Silva tries to get his left foot and divert it goalwards, but he doesn't make the desired connection and the ball balloons up in the air for Gomes to collect.
3' Aymeric Laporte with a speculative effort from 25 yards out, but his attempt flies comfortably over the crossbar. Man City on the front foot in the early exchanges.
2' Ilkay Gundogan delivers a corner from the left, but doesn't find a City player in the box. Kyle Walker goes for the first-time spectacular effort, again, to no avail.
1' And we're off! Watford gets the 138th FA Cup final underway.
Starting XIs Manchester City: Ederson (GK); Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany (C), Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Bernardo Silva; Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez Watford: Heurelho Gomes (GK); Kiko Femenia, Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart; Abdoulaye Doucoure, Will Hughes, Etienne Capoue, Jose Holebas, Roberto Pereyra; Troy Deeney, Gerard Deulofeu |