Man City Rout Watford In FA Cup Final To Complete Domestic Treble

By Max Wise

Manchester City ran riot in the FA Cup final on Saturday as they swept aside a helpless Watford side 6-0 at Wembley to become the first side to win all three English domestic cups in one season.

Raheem Sterling was the star of the day as he scored the first FA Cup final hat-trick since 1953, adding to goals from David Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne.

The result means City have equaled the joint largest ever FA Cup final victory after Bury inflicted upon Derby a similar scoreline in 1903.

Such is the riches Pep Guardiola has in his attacking armoury, he could even afford to leave out the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, on the bench for the entirety of the game.

Manchester City have now won the League Cup, Premier League and FA Cup all in the same season.

The scoreline could have been a bit different for Watford had Roberto Pereyra done better in the 11th minute after Gerard Deulofeu played him through on the counter attack but Ederson spread himself brilliantly to deny the Argentine with his right leg.

Manchester City have been ruthless in front of goal this season, and they made Watford pay for their earlier miss when David Silva’s 26th minute effort deflected off the foot of Kiko Femenia into the back of the net. 

City stamped their authority on the game thereafter and the recently-crowned Champions of England, doubled their lead in the 38th minute after Raheem Sterling tucked Gabriel Jesus’ goal-bound effort into an empty net.

Substitute Kevin de Bruyne ran onto Gabriel Jesus’ pass to cleverly outwit Watford goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, before burying the ball into an empty net in the 61st minute.

Seven minutes later Gabriel Jesus finally got his goal. With Watford looking to get back into the game, they left gaps at the back, and City ruthlessly exploited those gaps when De Bruyne sent the Brazilian in on goal to slide home the fourth goal of the day.

Raheem Sterling arrived late at the far post to sweep in City’s fifth goal after some good work by Bernardo Silva before the Football Writers’ Association Player of the year completed his hat-trick when he tucked in the rebound after Gomes tipped his initial effort onto the post.