Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Eden Hazard keeps cool from the penalty spot to crown Blues FA Cup winners in what could be Antonio Conte's final game
- Chelsea have been crowned the 2018 FA Cup winners after beating Manchester United at Wembley
- Eden Hazard opened the scoring on 22 minutes after calmly slotting a penalty past David de Gea
- Phil Jones brought the Belgian down in the area, though he was only awarded a yellow card for the foul
- Alexis Sanchez thought he had equalised in the second half, only for his effort to be correctly ruled offside
So Antonio Conte looks like he will depart Chelsea in the manner in which he arrived: by upstaging Jose Mourinho.
The two rivals, recently bitter enemies, embraced at the end of a final which was more notable for its first ever use of video technology than for any of the football on display.
Yet its significance lay in the result. The man who picked up the mess Mourinho had left at Stamford Bridge two years ago and managed to regenerate the team into title winners, before seemingly falling victim to the same political pressures that undid his predecessor, had one last parting shot to deliver.
Chelsea have been crowned the 2018 FA Cup winners after narrowly edging out rivals Manchester United at Wembley
Marcos Alonso hoists the trophy aloft from the victors' balcony at the national stadium as his team-mates celebrate
Italian Antonio Conte has won the trophy in what is likely to be the final game of his two-year spell as Chelsea manager
The celebrations continued onto the pitch for the Blues as manager Conte cracked open the champagne
A triumphant Chelsea team crowded around the gleaming silver cup to celebrate finishing the season as FA Cup winners
Cesc Fabregas celebrates with the trophy in the dressing room and also posted a celebratory snap with Hazard post-match
Jose Mourinho congratulated his rival Conte, while Chelsea's backroom staff rushed in to celebrate with the boss
Mourinho also took the time to congratulate each of the Chelsea players following the final whistle at Wembley
Paul Pogba and his Manchester United team-mates looked crestfallen as they made their way to collect runners-up medals
Spirits looked low across the United team as they missed out on winning the 13th FA Cup title in the club's history
Thibaut Courtois and Cezar Azpilicueta roared in delight at the final whistle as a dejected Romelu Lukaku walked on by
Eden Hazard opened the scoring on 22 minutes after keeping his cool to send David De Gea the wrong way from the spot
Hazard stepped up to take the penalty after winning the foul, and fired Chelsea ahead with what was to be the winning goal
Focus was etched across the face of the Belgian as he kept his head down and rolled the ball into the bottom corner
Hazard cupped his hand to his ear while heading off to celebration in front of the Manchester United end of the stadium
Olivier Giroud grabbed his attacking partner to roar in celebration after Chelsea took first blood in the match
The winger was mobbed by his team-mates in blue after giving Chelsea an early edge in the contest
In the battle of clubs with underwhelming seasons, Chelsea emerged the victor at Wembley. And a trophy can give even an unpolished campaign some lustre. A trophy makes a point and Conte was not slow to seize the opportunity.
On Saturday night he declared himself a 'serial winner' in what appeared to be an emotional farewell, though it is clear he will not quit. Chelsea will have to sack him.
'After these two seasons I will always love this colour, these fans, this club,' he said. 'Even if my future must be in a different way.
'After two years the club knows me very well. If they want to continue to work with me, they know me. I can't change. My way is always the same. And I think my past speaks very clear as a player and as a manager. You can tell what you want, but I'm a serial winner.
'I've showed this today, because we found the right way to win this trophy. I'm very happy for the players, I'm very happy for our fans. At the same time I'm happy for the club. In two seasons I brought two trophies for this club.'
And if that all seemed in the past tense — a final decision will have to be made by the club this week — he at least departs with a job well done.
FA CUP FINAL TEAMS, STATS AND PLAYER RATINGS
CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses; Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Hazard (Willian), Giroud (Morata)
SUBS NOT USED: Caballero, Barkley, Pedro, Zappacosta, Chalobah
GOAL: Hazard 22 (pen)
BOOKED: Courtois
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones (Mata), Young, Ander Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard (Martial), Rashford (Lukaku), Sanchez
SUBS NOT USED: Bailly, Romero, Darmian, McTominay
BOOKED: Jones, Valencia
REFEREE: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
ATTENDANCE: 87,647
Goalscorer Eden Hazard covered ground all over the pitch as Chelsea pressed Manchester United at Wembley. For more from Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE click here.
As for United, defeat reopens all the existential questions that dog Mourinho's reign. That they have improved is undeniable.
But just where they are heading is still unclear two years on. If they are a side constructed to win, rather than entertain, then that is an identity. But it does require a final victory. Ultimately, without that, it becomes meaningless.
Mourinho was defiant when it was suggested that his team had started the game badly — 'You think? I disagree' — and decisive when discussing the decision to leave out Romelu Lukaku — 'How can I convince a player that is not ready to play?'
Yet even Mourinho, in his moment of disillusion, would surely admire the cunning and canniness by which Conte contrived to eke out victory, with Antonio Rudiger outstanding at the back and N'Golo Kante patrolling midfield with the assiduousness that has now become customary.
Hazard had been brought down in the area by United defender Phil Jones, who failed to make contact with the ball
Hazard ended up in a heap following the challenge, as referee Michael Oliver instantly pointed to the penalty spot
Hazard had pierced clean through on goal before being felled, though Jones escaped with just a yellow card
Players from both sides immediately surrounded Michael Oliver after the decision of a penalty was awarded
Thibaut Courtois hurled himself across goal to deny a Manchester United chance, only for Alexis Sanchez to pop up
Sanchez flicked the ball over the floored Courtois but was judged to be offside, ruling out the equaliser
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte urged his side to remain focused as United started to add pressure in the second half
A heavily bandaged Phil Jones had to play on bloodied and bruised after clashing heads with Chelsea striker Giroud
Eventually, after that slow start, United were the better team. By the end they had created enough chances at least to take the game to extra time.
Principally there was Paul Pogba, heading wide from a corner in the 82nd minute when he had been afforded time and space to direct it goal-wards. But there were also fine saves from Thibaut Courtois denying Marcus Rashford in the 55th minute, Phil Jones in the 62nd minute and Rashford again in the 72nd minute.
There was a disallowed goal from Alexis Sanchez, who had strayed from an offside position to turn in that Jones chance on the rebound. That was a decision correctly given by the assistant referee and then confirmed by the video referee — which was an FA Cup final first.
But United had been undone by a lame start. Mourinho would doubtless argue they were rarely out of control.
Alexis Sanchez went in early for a tussle with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger at Wembley
Tiemoue Bakayoko battled with midfielder counterpart Nemanja Matic for an aerial ball in the opening stages
A focused Jose Mourinho led his side out at Wembley, as the atmosphere in the stadium soon begun to reach fever pitch
The famous trophy gleamed in the afternoon sun inside the national stadium as the two sides made their way out
However, in a season which has witnessed the thrills of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, they were also rarely threatening. As such, they invited misfortune.
In the 22nd minute Cesc Fabregas, who was afforded the freedom of midfield, played one of those lovely, raking passes, inviting Eden Hazard to accelerate. In two minds Jones ended up on the back foot, allowing Hazard to sprint away. The ensuring race between the pair was not a genuine contest.
And the moment Jones opted to close the gap with a tackle, you feared for United.
The challenge was committed yet clumsy, an open invitation to award a penalty. It was, however, not a red card because he had made a clear attempt to win the ball. As for the penalty, Hazard simply rolled it passed De Gea with a degree of contempt.
It was a breakthrough Chelsea's game plan required. And this was a defensive performance much more akin to the 2016-17 season. Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses were flying back and forth down the wings; Kante was immense and Fabregas was a willing foil.
Tributes were paid to the late Ray Wilkins, who represented both clubs during an illustrious career in professional football
A Wilkins banner was also draped across the Chelsea section, as the Blues paid tribute to one of their greats
The brass band roared into life as the national anthem began to ring around the national stadium ahead of kick-off
More surprisingly, there was Tiemoue Bakayoko, looking authoritative, more like the player they thought they had signed this summer. United could muster just a Paul Pogba shot and a Jones header before half-time.
There had to be reaction. United could not surrender this meekly. Mourinho sent his team out with fresh gusto in the second half and the Rashford strike bore evidence of that.
Chelsea were retreating, happy to sit deep and conceded possession, seemingly confident in their ability to spring a surprise on the counter.
United thought they had broken through in the 62nd minute, with Rashford's free-kick being headed towards goal by Jones. Courtois parried and Sanchez slid to turn the ball in but had advanced from an offside position.
Yet there was that ever-present threat of the Chelsea breakaway which could finish the game. It seemed the moment had come in the 70th minute, Kante striding towards goal and feeding Alonso.
The wing-back allowed the ball to run on to his right foot to get a better angle, yet in that crucial delay he lost all element of surprise and De Gea blocked superbly. Still, United were not safe.
United fans descended on Wembley baring banners offering support for legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Romelu Lukaku arrived with the United squad ahead of the big fixture, having been passed fit enough to make the bench
Pundits Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand speak with Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba upon his arrival at Wembley
Moses immediately cut the ball back and it struck the arm of Young. Again, video referee Neil Swarbrick was called upon.
He clearly concluded Young's arm was in a natural position and the ball had struck him too quickly and from such close range that it would have been impossible to move. As such, no penalty was awarded. But it was a mighty close call.
Two minutes later Rashford was denied by Courtois as United rallied.
Lukaku could not prove decisive but certainly Pogba should have done better with arguably United's best chance of a lifeline. In the 81st minute, a corner swung in and, given a free header to equalise, he contrived to direct the ball wide.
And if the game itself will not live long in the memory, at least the 137th playing of the world's oldest football competition would have a technological footnote to add to the history books.
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