Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Louis van Gaal’s last game in charge of Manchester United. Reportedly.
The 11-time winners take on a side who’ve never won a major trophy in their long history in Crystal Palace.
The game, of course, is a repeat of the 1990 decider in which Eagles boss Alan Pardew lined out. After a thrilling six-goal draw, United won a drab replay under floodlights.
How do you see this one playing out?
““It would be nice to say ‘fuck you’ to a few people, people who never believed in me. I believed in myself. But we’ll only cherish it if we win it. We had a meeting earlier this week and spoke as a group about what the Palace team did back in 1990. I have huge respect for what they achieved, getting to that final and then to the replay against United, but they didn’t win it. It’s important to remember that. They’re still talking about that team after 26 years, so imagine if they’d actually won it.”
Looking for some before-kick-off reading? This Dominic Fifield interview with Corkman Damien Delaney is excellent. Let’s hope he does himself justice this evening.
Oh no!
Former Manchester United winger Wilfriend Zaha is rumoured to be out of the game because of an injury picked up in the warm-up. He left the pitch in tears.
Ooof! Fellaini starts. Here’s the United team:
And Zaha will, in fact, start. He’s been named in the XI despite that injury rumour. The Guardian report that he was crying because of emotional messages he received.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, McArthur, Jedinak, Bolasie; Wickham. Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Sako, Puncheon, Gayle, Adebayor.
Fergie and Steve Coppell have arrived, continuing the 1990 nostalgia.
Scholesey looks in good form already.
LVG is talking about the decision to drop Jesse Lingard on BT. It is very, very tough, he admits.
We’re about to start the 10-minute pre-game stuff. Steve Coppell and Fergie are about to walk out with the cup and the volume is getting cranked up by the supporters, with the Palace end impressively coordinated as always.
Alex Ferguson’s advice to the players? “Go out there and enjoy it… but you can only enjoy it if you win.”
Somewhere in the east midlands, John Giles is spitting his tea across his living room. Tinie Tempah emerges from the tunnel in a nice spaceman bomber jacket to perform an atmosphere-killing medley of his hits.
The singer who was to perform the British national anthem missed her cue and joined in halfway through like fellas on the Hill with Amhrán na bhFiann.
And, at last, we’re up in and running in the 2016 FA Cup final.
First corner ball of the afternoon goes to Palace, who’ve started well.
Cabaye plays it to the near post and it’s too close to De Gea.
Fellaini could well be the key to success and failure this evening.
The Belgian was lurking with intent on the back post there and was found with a diagonal ball from Blind but his header was tame enough.
Rashford tests Damien Delaney by playing the ball past the Corkman and challenging him to a foot race.
The Turner’s Cross man launched a vital last-ditch tackle and conceded a corner. It’s been an open start to the game.
Chance! Another Man Utd corner and Fellaini is again the target. The Belgian gets a good header on it, after getting in front of his man marker Jedinak, but it goes wide again.
Rojo has a shot on target but he might have done better putting it across the six-yard box. Wayne Rooney picked him out with a lovely ball from deep.
What have you made of this first 15 minutes or so?
Palace have the ball in the net but it’s ruled out!
Conor Wickham gets past Chris Smalling who falls. Wickham drives into the box and tucks it away but Mark Clattenburg calls it back for a free in. Weird one.
Howard Webb says the ref should well have played advantage there and he’ll be disappointed.
Big save! Juan Mata pops up for the first time to shoot after a poor clearance from inside the box. Hennessy got down to get a strong hand to it and the danger is gone.
Fellaini again comes close! He’s the target for another corner after getting in front of Jedinak, put he can’t steer it home. Another corner.
Palace get two shots off in successive attacks; first from Bolaise and then Wickham. We’re half an hour in and it’s still scoreless, but there’s goals here.
Who had 32 minutes in the Giggsy-off-the-bench pool? Collect your prize at the back of the hall.
Great chance for United! Damien Dempsey dives in a little and is done by Rashford out wide.
He heads goalwards squares for Martial and the French forward’s shot is blocked.
Penalty shout!
Daley Blind loses the ball in a bad position and Zaha is in on goal. Rooney slides in and doesn’t seem to make any contact with the ball as his former teammate hits the deck. Clattenburg waves play on.
Rojo’s booked for a tussle with Zaha, and he’ll have to be very careful if he doesn’t want to pull a Kevin Moran.
Alan Pardew is furious the ref didn’t leave them play on again, meanwhile.
Juan Mata’s booked now too to become the third United player in the ref’s book after Snalling and Rojo. We’re into injury time.
Half-time! Man Utd 0 Crystal Palace 0
What have you made of that?
Mark Clattenburg — who officiates the Champions League final next week — is getting dog’s abuse on social media. The consensus on BBC is that he’s not had a good first period.
Finish those drinks and get back to your seat. The second half has kicked off.
Scott Dann’s booked for taking out Rashford, who’s been United’s brightest player if you ask me.
Fellaini hits the post!
The Big Belgian Battering Ram is getting closer.
Rashford again is the key. He’s been brilliant and again he picks out a teammate — this time with a flick. Fellaini takes it early but his shot canons off the woodwork.
The game is frantic enough now.
Martial headed goalwards from 15 yards or so out after a Valencia cross but it came off the post again.
Meanwhile, Damien Delaney’s been booked. He went through Marcos Rojo after a heavy touch and the Argentine is still on the ground.
Matteo Darmian is introduced in place of Rojo who leaves the fray with Damien Delaney’s stud-prints as a souvenir.
Jason Puncheon is preparing to come on for Palace. From the shadows will come heroes as Sam Torrance was wont to say in his Ryder Cup pomp.
Ashley Young is togging out as Rashford leaves the dray with a knock. That’s a blow for United’s chances.
It’s Cabaye who trots off to make way for Puncheon. Young goes into Rashford’s central role rather than Martial.
LVG loves to play people in the wrong places doesn’t he?
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 Man Utd 0, Puncheon 78′
What a goal from the south London favourite.
After a Palace corner is cleared, Delaney lofts it back in to Puncehon. The sub takes one touch and blasts it past De Gea.
They’re level. Wayne Rooney beat three Palace players at least before cutting the ball back. It falls to Mata via Fellaini’s chest and the Spaniard drills it home.
I’ve been trying to find a gif of Alan Pardew’s dad-dancing which clearly angered the football gods. United equalised three minutes later.
He’s gonna look pretty stupid if he ends up on the losing side.
Mata’s off in place of Lingard, meanwhile.
A downcast and apparently injured Scott Dann’s been replaced by Adrian Mariappa.
Wilf Zaha’s had a pop at goal under pressure from Valencia, meanwhile, but it fizzes wide.
Full-time: Manchester United 1 Crystal Palace 1
Extra time!
Both sides have made all their changes and we’re set for another half hour of this.
Palace get their first sight of goal in extra time.
Bolaise plays a lovely ball to Zaha on the half turn. The United defence get back in numbers and sniff out the danger.
Bobby won’t be hugely impressed by the fare in extra time so far. It look like both sides have their eyes on penalties already.
Rooney leaves his foot in on Puncheon to prompt calls of ‘off’ from the Palace fans. He’s already been booked and Mark Clattenburg looks in no mood to dismiss the England skipper.
Moments later Fellaini has his name taken for one of those elbow-first aerial challenges. Had to happen.
Save from De Gea! Bolaise volleys a ball goalwards and the Spaniard has to get down to the corner and palm it behind. Great effort too.
RED CARD! Chris Smalling picks up his second yellow card for dragging down Bolaise. Stupid stuff.
What do these managers say to their teams now?
Rio Ferdinand on BT says Pardew needs to gamble on the win in his period.
Is this the last quarter of an hour of Van Gaal’s tenure?
We’re off in the second period of ET.
De Gea save again! Gayle was played in and should have scored but the legs of the Spaniard are in the way. Massive let off.
Michael Carrick — who’s never won the FA Cup — arrives late in the box to meet a cross but he heads wide!
GOAL! Man Utd 2 Crystal Palace 1, Lingard
What a volley! Another sub gets his name on the scoresheet. Valencia plays a ball across the face of goal, it’s half cleared but pops up for the young winger and he lashes it home first time.
Van Gaal goes nuts on the sideline.
Damien Delaney’s playing at centre forward now. It’d be some story if he got an equaliser.
The Selhurst Road brains trust are looking pretty downbeat now with a couple of minutes left.
MAN UNITED WIN THE 2016 FA CUP!
Louis van Gaal has led United to their first trophy in the post-Fergie era while Palace lose another FA Cup final. Their wait for a major trophy goes on.
With the Galzer family looking on, will this this victory be enough to save LVG at Old Trafford?
Wayne Rooney’s actually speaking really well to Des Kelly about this — his first FA Cup final — and what it means to him.
The Palace fans are traipsing up the famous Wembley steps to collect their medals.
As the Stone Roses’ This Is The One comes on the PA, Carrick and Rooney lift the cup.
Thanks for your company. We’re off to do the Pardew.
Liverpool will win with ease.
You won the village idiot award of the day already.
I don’t remember that.
You won a cuckoo clock
Nice to see Mata start again ahead of Lingard people will moan about Fellaini but was good in last two rounds.. My biggest worry is a sending off for him.
Do you think Mata will be gone next year if Jose shows up? I hope not.
Bleedin FA cup is turning into Super Bowl
It’s sad United used to win league titles and the champions league….they are happy trying to get 4th every season and winning the FA cup. Paul Scholes was right United have turned into Arsenal. #eraisover
Don’t worry don’t cry..
It’s been three season since United won last, get over yourself. No-one can stay at the top forever.
What makes you say they are happy. United fans are furious at the drop in form over the last 4 years
Classic clattenburg cock up there, how is he considered the best ref right now?
Ya he’s a disgrace, bottled sending cabaye and Delaney off. Going out to injury players is an utter disgrace . He had no problem throwing around yellows cards for hand bags but ignores leg breakers.
Palace will feel very aggrieved with that decision. Poor refereeing from Clattenberg.
You pop up infrequently but ref decisions go for or against in every game. Reality is United fans would prefer 4th over FA, just like Liverpool. Ye will do well under Klopp and you know that.
C’mon Palace!
Haha GGMU
Scottish Cup Final 3-2 Hibernian beat Rangers, one of the best games of football I have seen for years even considering it was Scottish football
The pitch invasion after was even better….hup the Hibees!
Disallowed goal. Answers on a postcard please.
Pardew should have a good interview if they lose….
I’m hoping for a 2-1 win for United. I can’t see Palace making it as comfortable for United as they did at Old Trafford in April.
Martin Keown is the worst commentator
Ever !
Woohoo. Deserved win.
United are so boring to watch. Awful first half from a neutral perspective
From a neutral point of view I was looking forward to both games today. Scottish cup was brilliant, this has been really poor. Clattenberg is a wab.
Commiserations to Crystal Palace. Worthy finalists, and it could have gone either way. Congrats to Man United.
Please not another 30 mins.. #Dire
Do you not realise that you can change the channel.
Get in thereeeeeeeeee !!!!!
Ah christ Fellaini starts :-(
At least he’s not playing as a striker or attacking mid…
He’s good for a few peoples elbows.
He’ll properly score then
LVG OUT.
#Moyes in.
He gone now
Expect Man Utd to win, LvG did steady the ship towards the end and looked better, just do not know which Palace team will show up……
How did he? They fooked fourth place away…
A top 4 finished was thrown away long before the last few games , that last few just made it still mathematically possible
4th was being fooked away by Man City… You do actually follow what happens, right?
They fooked away a lot more then fourth place, you do actually follow what happens?
So, you gave up on your original comment? You do follow what you are saying, right?
How am I!!? Utd did fook away fourth place but previously city fooked away any chance they had of winning the league. So again, do you follow it at all??
Fooking hell lads
He properly saw van Goals tactics
PUNCHEON!!!!!
Great win for Hibs!
Damian Delaney was outstanding.Martin O’Neill, please ask Damian to play for Ireland, ignore Keane, he won’t refuse.
It’s o Neill that has the problem with him
I was of the option that Delaney had a problem with Keane since Ipswitch.
Ya he did have a falling out with Keane at Ipswich, but he was asked about it before and said’ its not Roy who had the problem with me at all ‘. There was talk that he would only come back if he was guaranteed a start. O Neill told him where to go
Will take it and be glad of a cup. Springboard for better things hopefully.
What sort of a dirtbag , takes off his club shirt and throws it on the ground after scoring, the mind boggles .
Yours would !
…….
disgraceful scenes.
oops wrong article
Just some prlck lads, move along.
Well done to Palace , a great game best final in years
It was a terrible game. What you talking about Willis
Someone tell who the second commentator on TV3 is!! It’s driving me mad
Welsh hippy we did enjoy that .
Great win , great week for United fans
Yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh
Years ago winning the fa cup meant something unfortunately not nowadays…
Fellaini for man of the match!