FA Cup final: Match review

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City

Whoever thought that the FA cup final was going to be a one-sided affair was in for a surprise. Wigan athletic looked little like the team that’s on the brink of relegation from the PremierLeague. The first half was an even affair as both teams failed to score but if gameplay and team spirit were criteria for winning, the Latics would have comfortably had the lead. But the best chance of the first half came to Manchester city when Samir Nasri and David Silva made a few good moves in the 36^th minute, letting Carlos Tevez a shot on goal, which Joel Robles saved brilliantly with his legs. Two minutes later, Callum McManaman got a massive chance to take the lead but he just couldn’t get a formidable shot away. But that doesn’t change the fact that he looked like the best player on display. Joel also made another important save around the half time whistle to deny Nasri and justified his selection ahead of the Omani shot-stopper, Ali Al Habsi.

The second half started in a slightly better way for Roberto Mancini’s men, and for a moment, Tevez trying to emulate Wayne Rooney, attempted an overhead kick but failed miserably. Seven minutes into the 2^nd half, Mancini switched Nasri to his favourite position – the bench – and brought on James Milner to replace him. McManaman was again spot-on in the later half and dribbled successfully past two city defenders in the 66^th minute, only to be stopped by Vincent Kompany. Both the managers changed their tactics a bit in a bid to break the deadlock. Roberto Martinez brought on Ben Watson for Jordi Gomez, and the Italian brought Jack Rodwell on for Carlos Tevez. The real moment of panic for the last year’s league title winners came in the 84^th minute when Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a reckless challenge on McManaman. Finally, Martinez proved to be the mastermind as the substitute Ben Watson headed past Joe Hart in the 90^th minute to give his team the lead. Watson, who missed most of the season due to a broken leg, would have never thought he would win his club its first FA cup trophy

In the end, the loss almost confirms that Roberto Mancini will have to leave the club at the end of the season and this would perhaps be the only day in the Wigan chairman Dave Whelan’s life, when he wouldn’t have regretted not buying Manchester United for $11.5 millions in the 1980s. Also, this season can be the most successful season in the Latics’ history if they somehow avoid relegation, which they clearly don’t deserve.