~RS~q~RS~preset=responsive~RS~z~RS~28~RS~)
Man City v Wigan
Wigan Athletic claimed the first major trophy in their 81-year history when Ben Watson's last-minute goal won the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Roberto Martinez's side produced a performance full of attacking intent and verve to fully deserve this historic win against firm pre-match favourites City, who had Pablo Zabaleta sent off six minutes from time.
Substitute Watson, who has missed much of the season after breaking his leg in November, sent Wigan's fans into ecstasy with a near-post header from Shaun Maloney's corner at the very moment the board went up to signal three minutes of stoppage time.
"If this FA Cup final was to be the beginning of the end for Roberto Martinez and Roberto Mancini, one was leaving on a magic carpet while the other was being smuggled out of the back door"
The goal was just reward for Wigan, whose drive and intensity was in sharp contrast to the desperately lacklustre display served up by City as last season's Premier League champions end this campaign empty-handed.
It completed a miserable day for manager Roberto Mancini, which began with reports that was about to be sacked and replaced by Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini and ended with a defeat that left City's hierarchy looking on stone-faced from the Royal Box as Wigan celebrated.
Opposite number Martinez is also at the centre of speculation about his future as he has been linked with the forthcoming managerial vacancy at Everton - and his stock will have risen markedly now he has the FA Cup against his name.
Wigan 'deserved' FA Cup final victory - Martinez
And when this final is remembered, the performance of Wigan's Callum McManaman will be recalled alongside Watson's goal after a magnificent, and close to unplayable, display of wing play which gave City defender Gael Clichy a harrowing afternoon.
It was also a moment of sheer joy for Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, who broke his leg playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 1960 FA Cup final against Wolves at Wembley. He led the team out, then watched in delight as they lifted the treasured trophy.
Once the delight has died down, Wigan must focus on what Martinez insists has always been their main priority, ensuring they stay in the Premier League as they remain in the relegation zone with only two game remaining.
Mancini made one surprise selection decision as he replaced Romanian Costel Pantilimon - City's FA Cup goalkeeper throughout their run to Wembley - with first choice Joe Hart.
Jubilant Wigan
- Wigan are the 43rd club to win the FA Cup and Roberto Martinez becomes the second Spanish manager to lift the trophy
- The Latics had only one shot on target in the match, but scored with it to triumph
- No top-flight club has ever won the FA Cup and been relegated in the same season
It was his opposite number Joel Robles who was into the action first as he saved from Yaya Toure after Carlos Tevez's poor free-kick had been charged down.
After this uncertain start, however, Wigan visibly grew in confidence and produced a first-half display of real composure and enterprise, exemplified by the excellence of McManaman and James McArthur.
McManaman had the opportunity to put Wigan ahead after only nine minutes but chose to cut inside when a first-time shot might have been the better option, curling a left-foot effort wide.
For all Wigan's trademark comfort in possession, it was their keeper Robles who was busier in that first half. He used an outstretched leg to save Wigan as Tevez looked certain to score after he was set up by Samir Nasri and David Silva eight yards out.
Latics ecstatic: Wigan fans celebrate Cup win
McManaman was a threat once more as he evaded Hart and weaved his way around the area, only to see his goalbound effort blocked by Zabaleta.
City's threat was sporadic but Robles was still being made to work and he saved from Gareth Barry and Nasri as an entertaining first 45 minutes came to a close.
The favourites had more of a spring in their step in the moments after half-time and it took a crucial touch from Latics defender Emmerson Boyce to divert Sergio Aguero's glancing effort at the near post following good work by Tevez.
Mancini was visibly unhappy with some of City's work and he wasted no time in making his first change, sending on James Milner for Nasri after 53 minutes.
Analysis
"I'm close to the Man City camp and I was shocked when I heard the rumours about Roberto Mancini's future.
"I think there's now more pressure on Mancini because he's lost the trophy today, but I believe he will be there next season. That's what I've heard. But today has put a huge dent in him going forward.
"I think he deserves another year, one more crack, and being able to spend more money on better players. The thing that's cost Mancini is the players bought in the summer. Poor players."
The noise levels among the Wigan support rose every time the exciting McManaman got on the ball and it took a superb block from City captain Vincent Kompany to end another jinking run into the area.
Mancini made another, somewhat surprising, change with 21 minutes left when Jack Rodwell came on for Tevez and swiftly had a header that was clutched by Robles.
Wigan, to their immense credit, were refusing to take a backward step and gave City another anxious moment when Maloney's angled free-kick glanced off the bar.
City, who had struggled for rhythm all afternoon, were reduced to 10 men with six minutes remaining when Zabaleta was dismissed. It was a simple decision for referee Andre Marriner when the Argentine, played into trouble by Barry's careless pass, hauled down McManaman having earlier received a yellow card.
Then came the moment that will be recalled in Wigan forever. Watson escaped from Rodwell at the near post to meet Maloney's corner and history was made.
Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (4)
Manchester City
- 01 Hart
- 04 Kompany
- 05 Zabaleta Dismissed after an earlier booking
- 22 Clichy
- 33 Nastasic Booked
- 08 Nasri (Milner - 54' )
- 18 Barry Booked (Dzeko - 90' )
- 21 Silva
- 42 Y Toure
- 16 Aguero
- 32 Tevez (Rodwell - 69' )
Substitutes
- 30 Pantilimon
- 06 Lescott
- 13 Kolarov
- 07 Milner
- 14 Garcia
- 17 Rodwell
- 10 Dzeko
Wigan Athletic
- 01 Robles Booked
- 03 Alcaraz
- 17 Boyce
- 04 McCarthy
- 10 Maloney
- 14 Gomez (Watson - 81' )
- 16 McArthur
- 18 Espinoza
- 33 Scharner
- 02 Kone
- 15 McManaman
Substitutes
- 26 Al Habsi
- 05 Caldwell
- 25 Golobart
- 08 Watson
- 20 Fyvie
- 09 Di Santo
- 11 Henriquez
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00 +2:22 BookingBooking Joel Robles is cautioned by the ref for time wasting.
90:00 +0:06 SubstitutionSubstitution Gareth Barry leaves the field to be replaced by Edin Dzeko.
90:00 +0:06Shaun Maloney provided the assist for the goal.
90:00 +0:06 Goal scoredGoal! - Ben Watson - Man City 0 - 1 Wigan Ben Watson scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Man City 0-1 Wigan.
90:00 +0:05Corner taken by Shaun Maloney,
88:20Foul by Jack Rodwell on Ben Watson, free kick awarded. Paul Scharner restarts play with the free kick.
87:50Shaun Maloney takes a shot. Blocked by Vincent Kompany.
86:45Ben Watson has an effort direct from the free kick.
86:45 BookingBooking Booking for Gareth Barry for unsporting behaviour.
86:40Unfair challenge on Shaun Maloney by Gareth Barry results in a free kick.
85:31Sergio Aguero is ruled offside. Antolin Alcaraz takes the free kick.
83:29Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Shaun Maloney.
83:29 DismissalDismissal Red card for Pablo Zabaleta.
83:21Pablo Zabaleta concedes a free kick for a foul on Callum McManaman.
81:48Shaun Maloney is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
80:30 SubstitutionSubstitution Ben Watson comes on in place of Jordi Gomez.
79:05Inswinging corner taken by James Milner, Joel Robles makes a save.
78:51Shot from 25 yards by Yaya Toure. James McCarthy gets a block in.
77:21Jack Rodwell has an effort at goal from 30 yards. Blocked by Antolin Alcaraz.
A cross is delivered by Gael Clichy, Paul Scharner manages to make a clearance.
75:42Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Maloney by Jack Rodwell. Shaun Maloney takes the direct free kick.
74:26Free kick crossed right-footed by Shaun Maloney.
74:26 BookingBooking Matija Nastasic booked for unsporting behaviour.
74:14Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Callum McManaman by Matija Nastasic.
73:20The ball is delivered by Callum McManaman, clearance made by James Milner.
71:13James Milner fouled by Roger Espinoza, the ref awards a free kick. James Milner sends in a cross, Jack Rodwell takes a shot. Joel Robles makes a comfortable save.
71:06The ball is delivered by Gael Clichy, Paul Scharner manages to make a clearance.
69:08Foul by Sergio Aguero on James McArthur, free kick awarded. Emmerson Boyce restarts play with the free kick.
68:20 SubstitutionSubstitution Carlos Tevez goes off and Jack Rodwell comes on.
68:04David Silva sends in a cross, comfortable save by Joel Robles.
65:13Roger Espinoza takes a shot. Matija Nastasic gets a block in. Callum McManaman takes a shot. Vincent Kompany gets a block in.
63:20Shot by Jordi Gomez from outside the box goes over the net.
61:47Carlos Tevez fouled by Jordi Gomez, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by David Silva.
60:45Gael Clichy fouled by Callum McManaman, the ref awards a free kick. Gareth Barry takes the free kick.
59:56Emmerson Boyce takes the free kick.
59:56 BookingBooking Pablo Zabaleta is booked.
59:51Foul by Pablo Zabaleta on Callum McManaman, free kick awarded.
59:43A cross is delivered by David Silva, clearance by Antolin Alcaraz.
59:24David Silva decides to take a short corner.
55:44Jordi Gomez takes a short corner.
55:36Callum McManaman delivers the ball, blocked by Vincent Kompany.
53:47 SubstitutionSubstitution Samir Nasri leaves the field to be replaced by James Milner.
52:53Foul by Shaun Maloney on Gareth Barry, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Gareth Barry.
49:56Corner from the right by-line taken by David Silva, Vincent Kompany has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
49:36David Silva takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by James McCarthy.
49:24Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Emmerson Boyce gets a block in.
48:05Samir Nasri produces a cross.
47:13Vincent Kompany challenges Arouna Kone unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Scharner takes the direct free kick.
46:18Shot from outside the box by James McCarthy misses to the left of the target.
45:01The second half has started.
45:00 +1:04 Half timeHalf Time The ref blows to signal half-time.
44:02Shot from 20 yards from Samir Nasri. Save made by Joel Robles.
42:56Gael Clichy is caught offside. Joel Robles restarts play with the free kick.
42:11The assistant referee signals for offside against Arouna Kone. Vincent Kompany takes the free kick.
40:29Gareth Barry takes a shot. Comfortable save by Joel Robles.
39:37Arouna Kone takes a shot. Vincent Kompany gets a block in.
37:46Sergio Aguero crosses the ball.
35:18Callum McManaman takes a shot. Pablo Zabaleta gets a block in.
34:59Yaya Toure takes a shot. Antolin Alcaraz gets a block in.
32:05Jordi Gomez takes a shot. Blocked by Vincent Kompany.
29:39Shot on goal by Carlos Tevez from just inside the area goes over the target.
28:40Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save by Joel Robles. Samir Nasri takes a short corner.
27:02Callum McManaman is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Matija Nastasic restarts play with the free kick.
24:47David Silva gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Roger Espinoza. Paul Scharner restarts play with the free kick.
23:07Matija Nastasic has an effort at goal from a long way out that goes wide of the right-hand upright.
21:42A cross is delivered by Roger Espinoza, Vincent Kompany manages to make a clearance. Effort from outside the penalty area by Shaun Maloney goes wide left of the goal.
18:59David Silva takes a shot. Save by Joel Robles.
15:32Shot by Shaun Maloney. Vincent Kompany gets a block in.
14:14Corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney, Paul Scharner has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
11:42Pablo Zabaleta concedes a free kick for a foul on Roger Espinoza. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Jordi Gomez from left wing.
10:06Foul by Samir Nasri on James McCarthy, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by James McCarthy.
9:20The referee blows for offside against Pablo Zabaleta. Joel Robles takes the free kick.
8:33Effort from deep inside the area by Callum McManaman misses to the left of the goal.
3:59The offside flag is raised against Sergio Aguero. Indirect free kick taken by Antolin Alcaraz.
2:20Foul by Emmerson Boyce on Sergio Aguero, free kick awarded. Carlos Tevez produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick. Yaya Toure takes a shot. Save made by Joel Robles.
1:23David Silva takes a shot. James McArthur gets a block in.
0:00The match gets underway.
Live data and text provided by our data suppliers
Comments
-
Comment number 782. Posted by Wharto84
on 13 May 2013 14:54Still hasn't sunk in..............WIGAN ATHLETIC FA CUP WINNERS!!! We are the kings of proving people wrong and im sick of saying "I told you so for the past 10years".................please let me say it one more time this season!!
-
Comment number 781. Posted by davidmcr
on 13 May 2013 12:24767. Since you're now going into a period of rebuilding everyone will have their chance over the next few years to be winning things. Chelsea and Spurs must be rubbing their hands together, great chance now that SAF is gone and there is possible upheaval at our place too behind the scences
-
Comment number 780. Posted by davidmcr
on 13 May 2013 12:13776, You obviously don't watch Milner play very often then
He's been excellent for us consistently since we've signed him
Quite alot of competition for midfield places but he always does a good job when called upon -
Comment number 779. Posted by Thevoiceof reason
on 13 May 2013 11:36This City fan has no hesitation is congratulating Wigan and wishing them all the best this week. The ref didn't get Zaba sent off- Barry did with a pass that would have been crap in a pub team. Wigan wanted it more and put in the effort. City didn't- not for the first time this season. We normally get away with it, but the attitude has cost us too often and RM had better deal with it quick.
-
Comment number 778. Posted by Football_understand
on 12 May 2013 19:06Well in Wigan, brilliant watching a team with young boys, and decent professionals against a team of overpaid merceneries, young mcmanaman ripped city apart all day
-
Comment number 777. Posted by alex
on 12 May 2013 17:55City have too many players just there for the money, they don't have any real passion for the club. Also the foreign players don't really know about the history of our FA cup and what it meant to win it, in recent years it has lost value. Well done to Wigan,their players showed desire and deserved to win.I said last season the good players don't always make good managers,my comment got thumbs down
-
Comment number 776. Posted by AVBs Negative Spiral
on 12 May 2013 17:50#773 Milner has been consistantly average for many seasons, whereas McManaman has played less than half a season. If he keeps up his current form then he should be in the England squad, but he still has a lot to learn.
-
Comment number 775. Posted by The BBC is Anti Scotland
on 12 May 2013 15:49What a mind numbingly dull game this was until the 90th minute. Two teams from the self appointed best league in the world playing out a drab game of football in the self appointed best cup competition in the world.
-
Comment number 774. Posted by Fool Observer
on 12 May 2013 14:39Man City look a spent force.
With Kompany on his way out and the prima donnas crashing their expensive cars in between strolling around the pitch. I doubt whether they will make the top 4 in the PL next season. -
Comment number 773. Posted by pjbhartley
on 12 May 2013 12:57this is what i cant understand about football, youve got average players like milner who always get an england call up then youve got callum mcmanaman the best player in the FA CUP FINAL who dont even get a chance.
somethings got to change
You must sign in to rate comments
