Raheem Sterling scored the first FA Cup final hat-trick since 1953 as Manchester City rounded off an outstanding season by crushing Watford at Wembley to clinch a historic domestic treble.
Sterling was the star of the show as Pep Guardiola's team became the first English men's team to achieve the feat of winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the same season.
They reaffirmed their status as this season's dominant force as Watford were utterly outclassed.
Watford's best chance of over-turning the odds came early on when City keeper Ederson saved at the feel of Roberto Pereyra and they were furious when referee Kevin Friend waved away penalty claims after Vincent Kompany blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure's shot.
The contest was effectively over from the moment David Silva finished from close range after 26 minutes, Sterling doubling the advantage before half-time by turning in Gabriel Jesus's goalbound shot.
Watford rallied briefly after the break but were always wide open to the counter attack.
They were brutally punished by an imperious City side, as substitute Kevin de Bruyne scored from Gabriel Jesus's pass just after the hour before the Brazilian raced clear for another goal shortly afterwards.
Sterling wrote his own name into the history with a treble by scoring twice in the final 10 minutes - turning in Bernardo Silva's perfect cross before bundling in the final goal of a memorable display from Guardiola's side.
It was City's sixth FA Cup triumph and their first under Guardiola, who has now won six trophies since taking over at Etihad Stadium in 2016.
City's win means Wolverhampton Wanderers, who finished seventh in the Premier League table, will play in the two-legged second qualifying round of the Europa League on 25 July and 1 August.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
21 minutes -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
29 minutes -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
2 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
2 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
2 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
2 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
3 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
3 hours -
German police probe market attack security and warnings
3 hours -
Grief and anger in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
3 hours -
Baltasar Coin becomes first Ghanaian meme coin to hit DEX Screener at $100K market cap
4 hours -
EC blames re-collation of disputed results on widespread lawlessness by party supporters
4 hours -
Top 20 Ghanaian songs released in 2024
5 hours -
Beating Messi’s Inter Miami to MLS Cup feels amazing – Joseph Paintsil
5 hours -
NDC administration will reverse all ‘last-minute’ gov’t employee promotions – Asiedu Nketiah
5 hours