FA Cup Final: Lingard is United’s hero; West Ham qualify for Europa League
Jesse Lingard scored a stunning extra-time winner as 10-man Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley to hand Louis van Gaal silverware in what could prove to be his final game in charge.
United fell behind to substitute Jason Puncheon’s 78th-minute strike, but Juan Mata levelled within 180 seconds to take the game to extra time.
Chris Smalling earlier embroiled in controversy after hauling back a goal-bound Connor Wickham saw red just before the end of the first additional 15 minutes following a foul on Yannick Bolasie, but substitute Lingard proved the Reds hero as they etched their name on the famous trophy for a record-equalling 12th time and first since 2004, casting aside pre-match speculation that Van Gaal is to be replaced by Jose Mourinho.
The Dutchman’s failure to steer United into the Champions League is a key catalyst for his likely exit, but the 64-year-old can at least boast a major honour from his two-year tenure after Saturday’s deserved victory.
However, it was heartbreak for Palace and their boss Alan Pardew, who played when the club last reached the Cup final United prevailing back in 1990 after a replay and managed West Ham in their 2006 penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.
United, who has already qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley to win the FA Cup for a record-equalling 12th time.
West Ham have qualified for next season’s UEFA Europa League as a result of Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph.
The Europa League place on offer to the FA Cup winners has been passed down to the Hammers, who ended the season in seventh place.
Slaven Bilic’s side join United and Southampton as England’s representatives in next season’s Europa League.
Southampton, who finished the season in sixth place, will enter the competition at the group stage along with United.
West Ham had missed out on securing European qualification via the Premier League on the final day of the season, losing 2-1 away at Stoke.
