Twitter reacts as Manchester United win FA Cup final in extra-time

Tom Victor

The FA Cup final might have taken a while to kick into gear, but we ended up with a game more memorable than many from the last few years.

The first half may have been dominated by Mark Clattenburg’s curious decision-making, but the game really kicked into gear when Jason Puncheon put Palace ahead.

That sparked some dancing – if we can call it that – and inspired Manchester United to produce the goods to take the game to extra-time.

Chris Smalling’s red card seemed to have given Palace the upper hand, but they couldn’t produce another goal.

And when Jesse Lingard struck late in the extra period, Alan Pardew’s team had nothing left.

The second half of normal time wasn’t the greatest until Puncheon found the net.

48 mins: when Rory Delap is mentioned, you know it's not a good game.

— Out of Context Bandwagons (@bifurcated_MBM) May 21, 2016

Watching this game hoping for a red card. Not much is happening is it?

— Steven (@mirkobolesan) May 21, 2016

Manchester United have more two-dimensional players than Streets of Rage.

— Huw Davies (@thehuwdavies) May 21, 2016

Especially when Louis van Gaal decided to play the hits, first making a trademark full-back substitution and then changing things in attack.

Ashley Young up front? Kill me. Kill me now. I won't stop you. End me.

— Alex Mullane (@Mullane45) May 21, 2016

The Rooney midfield experiment continues to produce mixed results.

About Rooney being a new Scholes: Scholes was able to successfully pass to more than just unmarked players.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) May 21, 2016

https://twitter.com/FutbolsaCountry/status/734080310510522368

https://twitter.com/tomEurosport/status/734080271637708800

We reached the stage where people were crying out for something…anything to happen.

Just want Phil Jones to take a corner one last time.

— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) May 21, 2016

But then Palace scored.

.@jason_punch42's brilliant near post finish briefly gave @CPFC the lead. #FACupFinal https://t.co/ZlO8oh0iys

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2016

And then United scored, taking us back to square one.

.@juanmata8's deflected strike draws @ManUtd level 175 seconds after @CPFC's opener. #FACupFinal https://t.co/Ux1Q4wiB2t

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2016

That was it for the 90 minutes of normal time, and we entered an extra half-hour.

Oh good, 30 more minutes of this

— James Tyler (still) (@JamesTylerESPN) May 21, 2016

https://twitter.com/lfcmaestro23/status/734083718780968960

We wouldn’t be having a repeat of Van Gaal’s World Cup antics.

Bizarre that LVG's used up all his substitutes with a penalty shoot-out looming. Sergio Romero must be fuming.

— pauliegunn (@PaulGunning1) May 21, 2016

And Man United fans weren’t too optimistic

I'm gonna be so annoyed when Fellaini loses it for us by putting his pen over the bar #FACupFinal

— Alain Tolhurst (@Alain_Tolhurst) May 21, 2016

And it got worse as Chris Smalling was sent off midway through extra-time.

.@ChrisSmalling becomes the fourth player to be sent off in an #FACupFinal. https://t.co/bqitbwsmVY

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2016

Smalling's 'ah fuck I'm off' face is a lovely sight.

— George (@McNeilGeorge) May 21, 2016

Though there were some positives.

https://twitter.com/ed_son/status/734093518042505217

And some pity.

https://twitter.com/Ankaman616/status/734093906900623363

Palace ought to have had the upper hand, only for Jesse Lingard to fire United into the lead 10 minutes from time.

Pick that out! Jesse Lingard with a sensational right-foot volley! #FACupFinal https://t.co/JpD9TNq0St

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 21, 2016