Jesse Lingard fires 10-man Manchester United to FA Cup victory in extra time over Crystal Palace

Jesse Lingard's extra-time strike gave 10-man Manchester United a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace after a dramatic match at Wembley.

After a tame opening hour Palace opened the scoring with a thunderous finish by Eagles substitute Jason Puncheon, who beat David De Gea at his near post after a lovely touch set himself up for the shot with 12 minutes left on the clock.

But Juan Mata levelled for United within three minutes, sending the match to extra time. Chris Smalling was sent off for a second bookable offence at the end of the first period, and five minutes after the restart Lingard latched on to a ball cleared out of the Palace six-yard box and volleyed an unstoppable shot beyond Wayne Hennessey.

The game began slightly behind schedule after a lengthy pre-match show that saw Tinie Tempah perform and singer Karen Harding miss here cue to sing the national anthem. And it appeared as if the performers had passed their nerves on to referee Mark Clattenburg in an eventful first half.

First Clattenburg failed to play advantage when Connor Wickham was fouled by Smalling, with the striker getting to his feet and finding the back of the net before he realised the whistle had gone. And then the official further enraged Palace by Wayne Rooney knocked Wilfried Zaha off balance in the box.

There was plenty for Palace to complain about at the break, but it was United who came out for the second half fired up, with first Marouane Fellaini and then Anthony Martial striking the woodwork.

The opening goal came when Puncheon’s corner was not dealt with by United, allowing the return cross to pick out the unmarked set-piece at the back post. Palace thought they’d won it, but Wayne Rooney – would had enjoyed a quiet afternoon – had other ideas, bursting into the box and picking out Fellaini to chest down for Mata.

Extra-time failed to spark into life, until Smalling hauled down Yannick Bolasie for his second booking of the game. But it was still United who looked the more likely to win it and Lingard’s thumping finish ensured that Palace’s long wait for major silverware will go on.

The win for United ends the club’s trophy drought since the departure of Alex Ferguson and means that Louis van Gaal has won a trophy in what is likely to be his final match as manager.

Did Alan Pardew get it wrong? Crystal Palace had threatened throughout on the break, using their pace to get in behind the United defence and playing off centre-forward Wickham. But Pardew (who also produced the most eye-catching moment of the match when he rolled out the dad dancing following Puncheon’s opener) decided to take off his striker and bring on Dwight Gayle late on, removing that hold-up option for extra-time and making Palace very predictable. The chances dried up and Pardew’s side were unable to put together extended spells of pressure from that point on. Wickham was beginning to look tired, but taking him off could well have been the decision that changed the game.

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) – Much of United’s good work came from the lively Rashford, who ran the channels brilliantly and showed an impressive level of vision to create numerous opportunities for his teammates before picking up a late injury. His departure left Van Gaal’s side devoid of spark – until Lingard’s lashed winner. Rashford’s display could well have done enough to earn him a place in the final England 23 for the European Championships… and he’ll have an FA Cup winner’s medal to take with him.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6; Ward 8, Dann 7, Delaney 7, Souare 6; Zaha 6, Cabaye 6, McArthur 6, Jedinak 7, Bolasie 7; Wickham 7. Subs: Puncheon 8, Gayle 6, Mariappa 6.

Man United: De Gea 7; Valencia 6, Smalling 5, Blind 6, Rojo 5; Carrick 6, Fellaini 7, Mata 7; Rooney 7, Martial 6, Rashford 8. Subs: Darmian 6, Young 6, Lingard 7.

16’ – NO GOAL – Smalling is booked for a foul on Wickham, but that's only half the story. Wickham got back to his feet after the incident, weaving into the box and finding the back of the net... only to then realise that the whistle had already gone

21’ – SAVE – Hennessey denies Mata with a terrific save to keep it at 0-0. The ease with which Palace's defence was torn open there will be a big concern, but they will be grateful that the Spaniard didn't quite catch his shot as well as he could have done.

32’ – BLOCK – Rashford picks out the unmarked Martial, but the France international's shot is blocked by Ward as it arrowed towards the back of the net.

38’ – REF! – Clattenburg fails to play advantage again as Ward is fouled but gets in behind the defence. Rojo is booked, but that's not what Palace wanted and the pacing Pardew has plenty of reasons to be complaining.

52’ – POST – Rashford tees up Fellaini and the Belgian rattles an effort off the post from inside the box. That's the best effort of the game so far and it's brought the United end to life for the first time.

61’ – POST – United go close again as the game begins to open up. Martial flicks a Valencia header beyond Hennessey but it comes back off the post. That's twice the woodwork has been struck since the break.

78’ – GOAL! Palace 1-0 United: Jason Puncheon scores for Crystal Palace! His corner is cleared by Fellaini, but he's picked out at the far post as Palace keep the move alive and he controls it neatly before lashing a shot past De Gea at the near post. 1-0!

81’ – GOAL! Palace 1-1 United: Juan Mata equalises for Manchester United after great work by Rooney saw the captain's cross chested down by Fellaini at the back post. 1-1!

ET 15’ – RED – Chris Smalling hauls down Bolasie as the Palace speedster springs forward on the counter-attack and it's a clear second yellow for the United centre-back. Smalling trudges down the tunnel with few complaints.

ET 20’ – GOAL! Palace 1-2 United: Jesse Lingard scores for Manchester United, lashing a shot past Hennessey after a clearance falls to him on the edge of the box. 2-1 United!

There were just 175 seconds between Puncheon's opener and Mata's equaliser.

Mata has scored or assisted a goal in both of his FA Cup final appearances.

Smalling is the first English player to ever be sent off in an FA Cup final.

Pardew has now lost in all three of his FA Cup final appearances – once as a player and twice as a manager.