Audio By Carbonatix
Raheem Sterling scored the first FA Cup final hat-trick since 1953 as Manchester City rounded off an outstanding season by crushing Watford at Wembley to clinch a historic domestic treble.
Sterling was the star of the show as Pep Guardiola's team became the first English men's team to achieve the feat of winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the same season.
They reaffirmed their status as this season's dominant force as Watford were utterly outclassed.
Watford's best chance of over-turning the odds came early on when City keeper Ederson saved at the feel of Roberto Pereyra and they were furious when referee Kevin Friend waved away penalty claims after Vincent Kompany blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure's shot.
The contest was effectively over from the moment David Silva finished from close range after 26 minutes, Sterling doubling the advantage before half-time by turning in Gabriel Jesus's goalbound shot.
Watford rallied briefly after the break but were always wide open to the counter attack.
They were brutally punished by an imperious City side, as substitute Kevin de Bruyne scored from Gabriel Jesus's pass just after the hour before the Brazilian raced clear for another goal shortly afterwards.
Sterling wrote his own name into the history with a treble by scoring twice in the final 10 minutes - turning in Bernardo Silva's perfect cross before bundling in the final goal of a memorable display from Guardiola's side.
It was City's sixth FA Cup triumph and their first under Guardiola, who has now won six trophies since taking over at Etihad Stadium in 2016.
City's win means Wolverhampton Wanderers, who finished seventh in the Premier League table, will play in the two-legged second qualifying round of the Europa League on 25 July and 1 August.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Chamber of Aquaculture, Virbac train farmers on biosecurity and disease control
42 seconds -
Traders count losses as fire guts shops at Adum
2 minutes -
What to expect at Joy FM’s ‘Mummy’s Day Out’ on May 9
13 minutes -
I returned home injured and empty handed – Ghanaian Russia-Ukraine War recruit
18 minutes -
Who owns the fuel powering AI?
27 minutes -
TGMA 2026 heads back to Grand Arena after venue change
54 minutes -
Former NAFCO CEO, wife discharged as state withdraws charges — later re-arrested
56 minutes -
Fire guts Mempeasem shops in Kumasi, destroys over 100 motorcycles
1 hour -
Ghana climbs in global press freedom rankings, ranks 39th worldwide
1 hour -
Minister for Fisheries to begin 6-day tour of inland fishing communities
2 hours -
Nine coal miners die in gas explosion in Colombia
2 hours -
Boakye Agyarko pledges to rebuild NPP ahead of 2028 elections
2 hours -
Police probe alleged assault of Amaniampong SHS student over church service refusal
2 hours -
Ga Mantse donates 3,000 mathematical sets to BECE candidates in Accra
2 hours -
Two remanded over alleged illegal possession of G3 rifle, ammunition
3 hours