Match ends, Manchester City 6, Watford 0.
Man City 6-0 Watford: Raheem Sterling scores FA Cup final hat-trick
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Wembley
- From the section FA Cup
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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 this feat and re-affirmed 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.
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More to follow.
Line-ups
Man City
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 4Kompany
- 14Laporte
- 35Zinchenko
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 8GündoganSubstituted forSanéat 73'minutes
- 21SilvaBooked at 60minsSubstituted forStonesat 79'minutes
- 26MahrezSubstituted forDe Bruyneat 55'minutes
- 33Gabriel Jesus
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 3Danilo
- 5Stones
- 10Agüero
- 17De Bruyne
- 19Sané
- 30Otamendi
- 49Muric
Watford
- 1Gomes
- 21FemeníaBooked at 80mins
- 6Mariappa
- 15Cathcart
- 25Holebas
- 7DeulofeuSubstituted forGrayat 66'minutes
- 19HughesSubstituted forCleverleyat 73'minutes
- 29Capoue
- 16DoucouréBooked at 22mins
- 37PereyraSubstituted forSuccessat 66'minutes
- 9Deeney
Substitutes
- 2Janmaat
- 8Cleverley
- 10Success
- 11Masina
- 18Gray
- 26Foster
- 27Kabasele
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 85,854
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamWatford
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away2
- Corners
- Home13
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away6
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 6, Watford 0.
Attempt missed. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Heurelho Gomes.
Attempt saved. John Stones (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Attempt blocked. Tom Cleverley (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by José Holebas.
Attempt blocked. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 6, Watford 0. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Kiko Femenía.
Attempt blocked. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 5, Watford 0. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Bernardo Silva with a cross.
Booking
Kiko Femenía (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Leroy Sané (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Kiko Femenía (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. John Stones replaces David Silva.
Attempt missed. Etienne Capoue (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Leroy Sané replaces Ilkay Gündogan because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Tom Cleverley replaces Will Hughes.
Attempt missed. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Will Hughes.
Attempt blocked. Etienne Capoue (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Isaac Success (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by José Holebas with a cross.
Foul by Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Isaac Success (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a fast break.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 4, Watford 0. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Roberto Pereyra.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces Gerard Deulofeu.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 3, Watford 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus following a fast break.
Booking
David Silva (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by David Silva (Manchester City).
Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Gerard Deulofeu (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Etienne Capoue with a headed pass.
Attempt missed. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne replaces Riyad Mahrez.
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford).
