Man City 6-0 Watford: City thrash Hornets in FA Cup final to claim domestic treble

A merciless Manchester City demolished Watford 6-0 at Wembley to win the FA Cup and become the first men's team to complete the English domestic treble.

After Watford went close through Roberto Pereyra and saw strong appeals for a penalty waved away, City took the lead through David Silva's smart finish from 12 yards (26), on their way to equalling the biggest FA Cup final winning margin (Bury beat Derby 6-0 in 1903).

They doubled their advantage through Gabriel Jesus' touch at the far post (38), which was just adjudged to have gone over the line before Raheem Sterling poked into the net, while substitute Kevin De Bruyne got City's third with a close-range finish having rounded Heurelho Gomes (61).

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Jesus, who started ahead of top scorer Sergio Aguero, got his goal (68), finishing coolly under Gomes after De Bruyne had slipped him through on goal, and Sterling got his second late on (81) at the far post from Bernardo Silva's fine centre.

Sterling rounded off a stellar season with his second and City's sixth (87), as City claimed their sixth FA Cup victory to go alongside their Premier League and Carabao Cup success this season. Watford, meanwhile, are still searching for a first major trophy in their history.

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How merciless City strolled to FA Cup win

Watford were bright early on and should have took the lead as semi-final hero Gerard Deulofeu squared for Pereyra, but he was met by the onrushing Ederson, who denied him superbly at his feet just inside the box.

Watford then had a strong call for a penalty turned down by Kevin Friend as Abdoulaye Doucoure's shot hit the arm of Vincent Kompany. Though the hand was by his side, we have recently seen penalties given by VAR for similar incidents, particularly in Europe, though the VAR controversially opted against a spot kick this time.

City took advantage and were ahead shortly after; both David Silva and Sterling did well to win headers, before Silva span Kiko Femenia and finished left-footed into the bottom right corner.

It was 2-0 before the break as Bernardo Silva's sublime ball over the defence was met by Jesus at a tight angle at the far post, and though his touch was heading over the line, Sterling rushed in to make sure by a matter of millimetres on the line. Though the goal was initially given to Sterling, after the game it was officially handed to Jesus.

Riyad Mahrez, who had been impressive, looked aggrieved to be subbed off just 10 minutes into the second half, but his replacement De Bruyne killed the game, finishing off into an empty net having taken on Gomes from Jesus' square ball as City broke.

De Bruyne was in the mood, setting up the fourth, as the Belgian's superb through ball was finished off low by Jesus from 15 yards, his fourth goal in the FA Cup this campaign.

City broke the record for biggest winning margin in a Wembley cup final as Sterling capped off a superb season with his 24th goal, striking from close range at the far post after some superb work from Bernardo Silva.

Sterling, who grew up in the shadow of Wembley, made it six late on, rebounding home after Gomes had kept out his initial effort.

Pep: Treble more difficult than CL

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's domestic treble is harder to achieve than winning the Champions League.

Chasing an unprecedented quadruple until Tottenham dramatically knocked City out of the Champions League in April, two-time European Cup winner Guardiola was adamant City's achievement trumps winning the Champions League, with Spurs and Liverpool contesting the final in Madrid on June 1.

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"It's one of the best seasons I have experienced as a manager. I wouldn't say the best, but one of the best for sure. To be 10 months, play in all competitions, and to be the first [to win the treble], it means we have been consistent every few days during 10 months.

"I love the Champions League, but to do that is more difficult than to win the Champions League."

Opta stats

• Manchester City are the first English top-flight side to register 50 wins in all competitions in a single season.
• City are just the fourth men's team to win both major domestic cup competitions in the same season, after Arsenal in 1992/93, Liverpool in 2000/01 and Chelsea in 2006/07.
• City are only the third side to score six goals in an FA Cup final, after Blackburn against Sheffield Wednesday in 1890 (6-1) and Bury against Derby in 1903 (6-0).
• City have scored 26 goals in the 2018/19 FA Cup - the most by a team in a single season in the competition since Charlton netted 29 and Derby scored 37, both in 1945/46.
• Pep Guardiola is the eighth manager to win the English top-flight, League Cup and FA Cup, after Bill Nicholson, Don Revie, Joe Mercer, Kenny Dalglish, George Graham, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho; Mercer also achieved the feat with Manchester City.

The Quadruple?

Jose Mourinho was never shy about counting the Community Shield as a major trophy, and despite missing out on the big quad with Champions League defeat by Spurs, City posted on their Twitter account shortly after full-time to celebrate the four pieces of silverware they've won this season.

What's next?

The Premier League fixtures will be announced on June 13 at 9am, before the season begins on August 10.

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