The match between Manchester United and Newcastle United was a battle to end trophy droughts. For United, their barren years had added up to their longest sequence without silverware since the early 1980s, while for Newcastle, it had been 54 years since their famous Fairs Cup triumph. The final was all about who could chart fresh territory and own the occasion, and ultimately it was Manchester United who emerged victorious, winning by the same scoreline as they did in the 1999 FA Cup final against the same opponents.
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, was ecstatic after the match, having seen his team comfortably win after a two-goal salvo towards the end of the first half. Casemiro scored the first goal with a towering header, while Marcus Rashford forced the second with a shot that deflected off Sven Botman. United were happy to play a more defensive game in the second half, knowing they were close to glory.
Ten Hag’s team has been performing exceptionally well, having lost only once in 21 matches and currently sitting in third place in the Premier League. They are also alive and kicking in the last 16 of both the FA Cup and Europa League, making it a sweet feeling for the manager and his team. However, the Glazer family, who owns the club, received criticism from the fans throughout the game and were urged to leave.
Newcastle, on the other hand, has undergone a transformation since the Saudi Arabia-led takeover in October 2021, with new manager Eddie Howe benefiting from a £240m spend on new players. Despite a decent start, the team struggled to maintain momentum and went down with a whimper.
The Newcastle end of the stadium was packed with black and white flags waving, while the other half of the stadium took its time to fill up, with red and white fans seeming more relaxed and comfortable with the occasion. Newcastle fans dared to dream when Allan Saint-Maximin almost drew first blood on 32 minutes, but ultimately it was Manchester United who unlocked the game.
Casemiro’s fifth goal of the season came from a whipped Luke Shaw free-kick from the left after Rashford was fouled by Bruno Guimarães. Newcastle did not like the decision, and Casemiro took advantage of a moment of confusion between Fabian Schär and Botman to power home. Karius, Newcastle’s third-choice goalkeeper, could not react in time to Rashford’s shot, which deflected off Botman, resulting in Manchester United’s second goal.
Newcastle struggled to maintain composure after conceding two goals, with Joelinton being booked for dragging down Casemiro after seeing him take the mickey out of Dan Burn. Howe went for broke in the second half, introducing Alexander Isak up front alongside Callum Wilson, but ultimately it was too little, too late. Manchester United was the likelier scorer of the next goal, and they would have got it had Karius not denied Rashford or Bruno Fernandes passed to Jadon Sancho rather than shooting. Karius made a smart save.
In the end, it was Manchester United who owned the occasion, sticking around for the trophy presentation and ending their trophy drought. For Newcastle, the wait continues, and they will need to regroup and come back stronger next season.
