Man City Win First Men’s Domestic Treble
Man City came out winners in Saturdays FA Cup final at Wembley to secure them their third trophy of the season and first ever men’s domestic treble in English football!
On Saturday evening it was the 134th FA Cup final. This years final was between Man City and Watford, with the Premier League champions looking to win the domestic treble. Going into the game both sides had full squads available, with City the favourites. Pep’s side went into the final confident of getting the win, having already beaten them twice in the league this season.
Watford hadn’t been to an FA Cup final for over 30 years. Their last appearance was in 1984 against Everton where they lost 2-0. This was also Watford’s only ever appearance in the FA Cup final other than Saturday. Man City, on the other hand, are far more experienced in the FA Cup. They had been to ten finals before Saturday and had won five of them. Their last visit to Wembley for the final was against Wigan in 2013. Wigan recorded a shock win scoring the only goal of the game in the 91st minute.
The game
City started the game on the front foot and it was clear what Watford’s game plan was. They were going to sit back and try and hit City on the counter-attack. This nearly paid off for them in the tenth minute when they had the first chance of the game. A counter-attack found City outnumbered and Pereyra was through on goal. Ederson came running out and closed off the angle, saving the shot with his trailing foot. Watford went on to rue this miss 15 minutes later.
A poor bit of defending saw Watford unable to clear the ball and as it fell to Silva 10 yards out, he hit it across the goal into the bottom right corner. City were in the lead and looking to add more at every chance. On the 38t minute, this lead was doubled. An inswinging ball from Bernado found Jesus at the back post. He flicked the ball past Gomes and Sterling smashed it in. Replays showed though the ball was already over the line when Sterling hit it. At half time it was 2-0 and it looked game over, Watford not looking like they had two goals in them.
15 minutes into the second half a City made sure the treble was theirs. Jesus and De Bruyne running at the Watford goal saw Jesus play a through ball to his teammates. The Belgian midfielder took it around Gomes and put the ball into the empty net. De Bruyne then returned the favour on the 67th minute, Jesus one on one and finishing the ball well into the bottom corner.
Sterling did finally get his goal. It was the type of goal we’ve seen him score all season. A ball across the face of the goal to the back post for the Englishman to smash into the net. He then got himself a second on the 86th minute. His shot was saved onto the post but came back out to him on the goal line to score another tap in.
The game finished 6-0 and City had won the first-ever men’s domestic treble in England.
This win put City at 50 wins for the season, this is the most any team in the top flight of English football has won in one season. It was also the last time we would see Kompany in a Man City shirt. City confirmed on Sunday he would be leaving and he is going to take a player-manager role at Anderlecht, the club from which City signed him.
For City to go one better next season and with the quadruple is 100/1 on Bet365. For them to retain the FA Cup is 10/3 and for Watford to make amends and win the FA Cup next year is 40/1 on Bet365.
