Jesse Lingard struck an extra-time winner as 10-man Manchester United won the FA Cup for the first time in 12 years with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley.
In a repeat of the 1990 final, Jason Puncheon’s strike put Palace to within 12 minutes of a maiden FA Cup triumph but Juan Mata levelled three minutes later to force extra-time.
Chris Smalling’s dismissal for two bookable offences at the end of the first period of extra-time swung the game in Palace’s favour, but, with penalties looming, Lingard’s rasping drive won the trophy for United in stunning fashion.
It’s a result that eases some of the pressure on under-fire United boss Louis van Gaal, who brings the first trophy to Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Alan Pardew made six alterations to the second-string XI fielded in Palace’s final-day defeat against Southampton, while United welcomed back Marouane Fellaini following a three-game suspension and Marcos Rojo after he missed Tuesday’s rearranged fixture with Bournemouth.
The match kicked off late following a jazzed-up opening ceremony that did not run to time – or plan, with national anthem singer Karen Harding missing her cue, but United were on top early when the match finally got going.
Marcus Rashford, fresh from his inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s preliminary England squad for Euro 2016, saw a 10th-minute effort blocked by Pape Souare before Fellaini headed the resulting corner wide.
There was major controversy on 17 minutes when Connor Wickham got the better of Smalling and thought he’d opened the scoring when he shot past David de Gea.
But, to the bemusement of those in red and blue, referee Mark Clattenburg pulled play back to award Palace a free-kick for a foul by Smalling in the build-up, which earned the defender his first yellow card.
Palace were frustrated by referee Calttenburg twice more in the first-half when Joel Ward was called back after shaking off the attention of Marcos Rojo and Wilfried Zaha was penalised for handball after he appeared to have been tripped in the area by Wayne Rooney.
United were unable to take advantage of their fortune as Mata drew Wayne Hennessey into a smart save, Fellaini’s glancing header deflected wide and Anthony Martial’s goal-bound effort was stopped on the line by Joel Ward
Palace sought refuge at half-time but the United attack showed no sign of abating after the break as Fellaini’s rasping drive rattled the frame of Hennessey’s goal within eight minutes of the restart.
The same went for Martial’s glancing header shortly after the hour, the Frenchman beating the Wales international stopper but seeing his effort strike the woodwork as Palace remained level.
There was a set-back for United – and England – when Rashford was forced off with a nasty-looking knee injury on 71 minutes, but a cagey affair burst into life when the first goal came on 78 minutes.
Substitute Puncheon, six minutes after replacing Yohan Cabaye, remained onside to meet Damien Delaney’s hopeful diagonal before lashing the ball high past De Gea from a tight angle.
The Palace fans went wild and Pardew performed a jubliant dance on the touchline – but the celebrations were cut short as United responded immediately.
Captain Rooney danced his way into the area and floated the ball to Fellaini who cushioned with his chest for Mata to drill into the back of the net with a sweet left-footed volley.
Rooney curled an effort over seven minutes into extra-time before Bolasie forced De Gea to tip his volley away shortly after.
As half-time in extra-time approached, Smalling was shown a second yellow card for cynically halting Bolasie’s counter.
But it was to be United who struck the telling blow as Lingard rifled home the winner 10 minutes from time to leave the deflated Palace players strewn across the field at the full-time whistle.