Manchester City coasted home to an unprecedented domestic treble in style, picking off a brave Watford side to rack up a record 6-0 win in the FA Cup final.
Javi Gracia set up to frustrate City and for large periods of the first half, he was vindicated in his efforts as Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus struggled to get on the ball and affect the game high up the pitch. Roberto Pereyra was presented with all the time and space he needed to open the scoring but failed to find the net, a tale of the two sides fortunes in many ways, as soon enough City were able to break the deadlock themselves, with David Silva providing a clinical finish from Sterling’s looped header. Gabriel Jesus, a surprise starter ahead of Sergio Aguero, peeled off Kiko Femenia to prod past Heurelho Gomes at the back post, with Sterling following in to make sure of the goal. Upon the full-time whistle, however, the goal was eventually awarded to Jesus, starving Sterling of the opportunity to score a first FA Cup final hat-trick since Sir Stanley Matthews in 1953.
City turned on the style after half-time, reacting to an early Watford onslaught, to hit four more past the hapless Hornets. Jesus grabbed an assist to lay the ball on a plate for substitute Kevin De Bruyne to coolly slot home, before the Brazilian got his second of the game with a composed finish on the break. Raheem Sterling then provided two clinical finishes from close range, to equal the record winning margin in an FA Cup final – set by Bury against Derby over 100 years ago.
Here are our player ratings following the final.
