2011 FA Cup final
2011 FA Cup final
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2011 FA Cup final

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2011 FA Cup Final
The match programme cover.
Event2010–11 FA Cup
Manchester City Stoke City
1 0
Date14 May 2011
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Man of the MatchMario Balotelli (Manchester City)[1]
RefereeMartin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)[2]
Attendance88,643[3]
WeatherSunny
17 °C (63 °F)
← 2010
2012 →

The 2011 FA Cup final was the 130th final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic football cup competition.[4][5] The final took place on 14 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London in front of 88,643 spectators and a British television audience of more than eight million.[6][7] The clubs contesting the final were Premier League clubs Manchester City and Stoke City. The match was Stoke City's first FA Cup final, and Manchester City's ninth.

As Premier League clubs, they entered the competition in the third round. Manchester City made an unconvincing start, contesting two replays against lower league opposition in the third and fourth rounds but gained momentum and kept three consecutive clean sheets en route to the final. Stoke City played one replay in the third round, before beating all opponents in a run which culminated in a 5–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium – the biggest winning margin at Wembley since 1939.[8] Manchester City entered the final as favourites,[9] with Stoke City as underdogs.[10]

Manchester City began the match the brighter of the two teams with the majority of possession and a number of shots forcing saves from goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen but the first half remained goalless. Stoke improved after the half-time interval but failed to score from their only shot on target in the 62nd minute, which was saved by goalkeeper Joe Hart after a one-on-one with striker Kenwyne Jones. In the 74th minute, Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Touré fired a loose ball in the Stoke City penalty area past goalkeeper Sørensen to give Manchester City the lead. Stoke attempted to equalise after Manchester City's goal without success and the final finished 1–0 with Manchester City claiming their fifth FA Cup.[11] The result gave Manchester City their first major trophy for 35 years, ending the longest trophy drought in the club's history.[3][12] Stoke City manager Tony Pulis said "Manchester City were the better team and deserved to win",[13] but expressed "disappointment" at his team's display.[13] Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini dedicated the victory to the Manchester City supporters, declaring, "I am happy for the fans, they deserved to win this Cup. For a long time they didn't win."[14]

The medals were handed out by Prime Minister David Cameron. As winners, Manchester City won a place in the 2011 FA Community Shield and the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League but as they had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, the Europa League place was given to Stoke City as runners-up. To celebrate their victory, Manchester City held an open-top bus parade on 23 May 2011, beginning at Manchester Town Hall and ending at the City of Manchester Stadium; it attracted a crowd of up to 100,000.[15][16]

Route to the final

[edit]
See also: 2010–11 FA Cup

Manchester City

[edit]
A full football stadium, with spectators in the left half wearing blue, and those in the right half wearing red
After the semi-final against Manchester United, which Manchester City won 1–0 to secure a place in the 2011 final.

As a Premier League team, Manchester City entered the competition in the third round. Their opening match was an away draw at Leicester City. Following a supporter campaign, Manchester City dedicated the match to former striker Neil Young, who was terminally ill.[17] Young scored the winning goal when Manchester City and Leicester City met in the 1969 FA Cup Final.[18] Manchester City fell behind after 46 seconds when Sol Bamba scored for Leicester following a corner. Manchester City took the lead by half-time through James Milner and Carlos Tevez, but Andy King equalised midway through the second half to make the score 2–2.[19] The tie was replayed at the City of Manchester Stadium the following week. Tevez gave Manchester City the lead after quarter of an hour, but the lead was brief. Four minutes later, Paul Gallagher's penalty levelled the score, after Patrick Vieira had fouled Lloyd Dyer.[20] Before half-time, two Manchester City goals in 90 seconds shifted the momentum of the match. In the second half, Tevez missed a penalty and a goal by Dyer made the score 3–2. Leicester then pushed for an equaliser, but instead Aleksandar Kolarov scored on a counter-attack to make the final score 4–2.[21]

Round Opposition Score
3rd
Replay 		Leicester City (A)
Leicester City (H) 		2–2
4–2
4th
Replay 		Notts County (A)
Notts County (H) 		1–1
5–0
5th Aston Villa (H) 3–0
6th Reading (H) 1–0
Semi-final Manchester United (N) 1–0

For the fourth round Manchester City were drawn against League One Notts County at Meadow Lane. On a pitch described by the BBC as "pudding-like", lower division County threatened an upset when Neal Bishop scored from a corner in the 59th minute.[22] However, ten minutes from time Micah Richards crossed for Edin Džeko to score his first Manchester City goal, ensuring a replay at the City of Manchester Stadium.[23] Notts County started the rematch brightly, but faded as the game progressed. The score remained 0–0 for most of the first half, but Vieira scored either side of half-time to give Manchester City a two-goal lead.[24] From that point, the match proved less even, and Manchester City scored three more goals for a 5–0 win.[25] From there on, City kept consecutive clean sheets on the way to winning the cup. Manchester City's fifth-round match was against Aston Villa at the City of Manchester Stadium. Villa manager Gérard Houllier rested several senior players, in contrast to a near full-strength Manchester City line-up.[26] Manchester City took the lead after less than five minutes through Yaya Touré, and further goals from Mario Balotelli and David Silva resulted in a comfortable 3–0 win.[27]

In the sixth round, Manchester City were again at home, and faced Reading, the only non-Premier League team left in the competition.[28] Micah Richards scored the only goal, a header from a corner in the 73rd minute.[29] In the semi-final, at Wembley Stadium, City defeated rivals Manchester United 1–0 with a Yaya Touré goal,[30] and continued their FA Cup semi-final record of nine victories out of 11, reaching the FA Cup Final for the first time since 1981.

Stoke City

[edit]
Round Opposition Score
3rd
Replay 		Cardiff City (H)
Cardiff City (A) 		1–1
2–0 (aet)
4th Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) 1–0
5th Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 3–0
6th West Ham United (H) 2–1
Semi-final Bolton Wanderers (N) 5–0

Stoke, also a Premier League side, entered the competition at the third round stage, where they were drawn at home to Welsh side Cardiff City. Stoke City made seven changes to the team that played their previous match.[31] Michael Chopra gave Cardiff an early lead, but Stoke's Tuncay Şanlı levelled the score just before half time. Stoke had a number of chances in the later stages of the match, but Cardiff held out for a replay.[32] In the replay at the Cardiff City Stadium Stoke again used several reserves, changing all but one of the players from the previous league match.[33] Few chances occurred during the game; the score was 0–0 after 90 minutes, prompting extra time.[34] In the added period, Jonathan Walters scored twice to secure a 2–0 Stoke City win; the first goal was a header from a corner,[34] the second a near-post rebound.[33] Stoke City then travelled to fellow Midlands team Wolverhampton Wanderers for the fourth round, in one of five all-Premier League ties.[35] Stoke defender Robert Huth was a central figure in the match. Ten minutes from time he gave Stoke a 1–0 lead with a header from a free-kick,[36] but in the final minute he conceded a penalty for tripping Nenad Milijaš. Milijaš took the spot-kick himself, but his effort was saved by Thomas Sørensen.[37]

Stoke's fifth-round match was at home against League One leaders Brighton & Hove Albion. Three first half goals by John Carew, Jonathan Walters, Ryan Shawcross led Stoke to a 3–0 win.[38] Stoke then faced West Ham United in the sixth round. Stoke scored an early goal from a set-piece, when long throw-in specialist Rory Delap delivered the ball into the penalty area for Huth to score with a header.[39] Controversial refereeing decisions then provoked the ire of both teams. When Frédéric Piquionne equalised for West Ham, the decision to award the goal infuriated Stoke; in controlling the ball Piquionne committed what Stoke manager Tony Pulis called a "stonewall" handball.[40] West Ham themselves felt aggrieved in the first minute of the second half when Stoke were awarded a penalty. Matthew Etherington was adjudged to have been fouled by Scott Parker though, as the BBC correspondent wrote, "there appeared to be minimal contact".[41] Robert Green saved Etherington's penalty to keep the score level. The winning goal also came from a set piece. Danny Higginbotham's free-kick was reached by Green but could not be stopped, and Stoke won 2–1 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1972.[41] In the semi-final, Stoke beat Bolton Wanderers comfortably, winning 5–0. Stoke took a three-goal lead in less than half an hour after goals from Etherington, Huth and Kenwyne Jones. Walters scored twice in the second half to complete the win. The margin of victory was the biggest in an FA Cup semi-final since 1939,[42] and secured Stoke's first ever FA Cup Final appearance.[43] By reaching the final, Stoke qualified for the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League before the final, as Manchester City had beat Tottenham days before the final to secure fourth position in the Premier League and consequently Champions League qualification.[44]

Pre-match

[edit]
The pre-match rendition of Abide with Me.

Manchester City were appearing in the final for the ninth time. They had won the cup four times previously (in 1904, 1934, 1956 and 1969), and had been beaten in the final four times (in 1926, 1933, 1955 and 1981). Stoke City were making their first appearance in the final. Their previous best was participation in the semi-finals, which had occurred three times.[45]

The 2011 final faced scheduling problems and the match clashed with top flight League fixtures for the first time since 1934, which disappointed football traditionalists.[46] The 2011 UEFA Champions League Final was being hosted at Wembley on 28 May 2011 and UEFA rules stipulate that the host stadium for the final must not have a fixture played two weeks prior to the final. Therefore, the FA Cup final had to be moved forward, and for the first time since 1989 was played before the English football domestic season ended.

The teams line up before the match with Stoke City in red-and-white stripes and Manchester City in sky blue.

Many of the weekend's Premier League fixtures were rescheduled to avoid a clash with the final, with some kicking off at 12:45 on Saturday and others on Sunday.[46][47] By coincidence, Manchester City and Stoke City were scheduled to meet in the league on cup final day. The league match was rearranged for the Wednesday after the final. This prompted criticism from Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, whose team was challenging Manchester City for a place in the 2011–12 Champions League. Redknapp stated that if Manchester City won the final, it would then be in Stoke City's interest to lose against Manchester City in the league match, as it would make Europa League qualification for Stoke more likely.[48] Stoke City refuted this accusation strongly,[49] but ultimately this scenario was avoided. Champions League qualification was settled four days before the final, when Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 in a league match.[50]

Both clubs received an allocation of approximately 25,000 tickets,[51] fewer than the 32,000 received for the semi-finals. The allocation was enough for the 21,000 Stoke City season ticket holders, but not for Manchester City's 36,000 season ticket holders.[52] Consequently, some supporters felt aggrieved at the lack of tickets,[53] including Stoke City chairman Peter Coates who expressed his disappointment and suggested an allocation in the region of 30,000 for both clubs.[54] Ticket prices for the final exceeded £100 for the first time. The most expensive tickets cost £115, an increase of 22 per cent on the previous season. The cheapest tickets available at £45, up £5 from 2010.[51][55]

As for every match in the 2010–11 FA Cup, the ball for the final was provided by Nike-owned, Manchester-based sports equipment company Umbro. The Umbro Neo Pro features a 14-panel design, and is patterned in blue and red.[56] The majority of the balls to be used in the game arrived on the previous Wednesday, while the ball to be used at kick-off was delivered to the stadium on the day of the game.[56]

The traditional Cup Final hymn, "Abide with Me", was sung by Tenors Unlimited, a trio of male vocalists, and former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon performed the national anthem, "God Save the Queen".[57]

Match

[edit]
Match statistics[3]
Manchester City Stoke City
Goals scored 1 0
Total shots 23 9
Shots on target 14 7
Ball possession 59% 41%
Corner kicks 8 7
Fouls committed 14 9
Yellow cards 0 2
Red cards 0 0

Stoke City went into their first FA Cup Final as underdogs according to their manager Tony Pulis,[10] while Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini saw in-form Stoke's underdog tag as a risk for complacency from his side.[58] There were fitness doubts over key players for both teams, Carlos Tevez for Manchester City,[59] and Matthew Etherington for Stoke City, who suffered a hamstring tear only 17 days prior to the final,[60] but both were able to start the match. However, Stoke City's underdog tag proved true as Mancini's Manchester City side had the better of the match, with a 59 per cent share of ball possession and 23 attempts on goal to Stoke City's nine, only one of which was on target.

Both teams were able to play in their respective home colours without any colour clash: Stoke City played in their red-and-white stripes, and Manchester City played in their sky blue colours with the Manchester coat of arms on their shirt numbers, keeping up a long-standing club tradition of wearing the city's coat of arms for cup finals.[61]

Report

[edit]

Manchester City set up in a 4–2–3–1 formation,[62] with Mario Balotelli, David Silva and Yaya Touré playing behind lone striker Carlos Tevez, and Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry in defensive midfield roles.[63] Stoke City set up in a rigid 4–4–2 formation, with two wingers in Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington[64] to support strikers Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters.[63]

Manchester City started sprightly, managing to create some chances which forced saves from Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen and steady defending to keep Stoke City in the game in the first half. Yaya Touré unleashed a 30-yard strike in the 11th minute which went only inches wide of the top corner of the goal,[65] while Mario Balotelli had a curling shot from the corner of the penalty area in the 24th minute which was destined for the goal but for a strong, one-handed save from Sørensen.[65]

Stoke improved after the break, but Manchester City had a key opportunity in the 56th minute when a counter-attack led by Carlos Tevez, who drifted out to the right flank, allowed David Silva to find space outside the Stoke City penalty area. Tevez managed to pass to Silva, but Silva was guilty of over-elaboration instead of shooting first-time, and the Stoke City defence managed to regroup, dispossessing Silva before he could adjust himself to shoot at goal.[65]

Only six minutes later, in the 62nd minute,[65] Stoke had their key chance and only shot on target of the match with Kenwyne Jones in the 61st minute. A looping ball over the top of the Manchester City defence by Matthew Etherington allowed Jones a one-on-one, but he failed to convert, firing straight at goalkeeper Joe Hart with the ball ricocheting off both striker and keeper before bobbling to safety. Doubts over Matthew Etherington's fitness resurfaced when he was taken off in the 63rd minute,[66] with Stoke City still in the game at 0–0 as it stood.

However, in the 74th minute,[65] Sørensen was unable to prevent Yaya Touré's effort from ten yards when he pounced on a stray ball in the penalty area to shoot with his left foot past Sørensen in front of the Manchester City supporters. Stoke City attempted to get a goal back, resorting to direct long balls into the Manchester City penalty area but failed to create any concrete chances. Despite Yaya Touré clinching the winning goal, enigmatic striker Mario Balotelli – who claimed he had a "shit" season in a post-match interview[67] – was named man of the match for his efforts.[62]

Details

[edit]
Manchester City1–0Stoke City
Y. Touré 74' Report
[68]
Attendance: 88,643[3]
Manchester City
Stoke City
GK 25 England Joe Hart
RB 2 England Micah Richards
CB 4 Belgium Vincent Kompany
CB 19 England Joleon Lescott
LB 13 Serbia Aleksandar Kolarov
DM 34 Netherlands Nigel de Jong
DM 18 England Gareth Barry downward-facing red arrow 73'
CM 42 Ivory Coast Yaya Touré
RW 21 Spain David Silva downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
LW 45 Italy Mario Balotelli
CF 32 Argentina Carlos Tevez (c) downward-facing red arrow 88'
Substitutes:
GK 1 Republic of Ireland Shay Given
DF 5 Argentina Pablo Zabaleta upward-facing green arrow 88'
DF 38 Belgium Dedryck Boyata
MF 7 England James Milner
MF 11 England Adam Johnson upward-facing green arrow 73'
MF 24 France Patrick Vieira upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
FW 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Džeko
Manager:
Italy Roberto Mancini
GK 29 Denmark Thomas Sørensen
RB 28 England Andy Wilkinson Yellow card 76'
CB 17 England Ryan Shawcross (c)
CB 4 Germany Robert Huth Yellow card 40'
LB 12 Republic of Ireland Marc Wilson
RM 16 England Jermaine Pennant
CM 6 Republic of Ireland Glenn Whelan downward-facing red arrow 85'
CM 24 Republic of Ireland Rory Delap downward-facing red arrow 81'
LM 26 England Matthew Etherington downward-facing red arrow 62'
CF 9 Trinidad and Tobago Kenwyne Jones
CF 19 Republic of Ireland Jonathan Walters
Substitutes:
GK 27 England Carlo Nash
DF 5 Wales Danny Collins
DF 25 Senegal Abdoulaye Faye
MF 14 England Danny Pugh upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 15 Senegal Salif Diao
MF 18 England Dean Whitehead upward-facing green arrow 62'
FW 22 Norway John Carew upward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:
Wales Tony Pulis

Man of the match

Match officials

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Post-match

[edit]
The Manchester City team celebrating winning the FA Cup

Tony Pulis commented after the game that "Manchester City were the better team" and that "they deserved to win the game",[13] while Roberto Mancini dedicated the victory to the Manchester City supporters.[14] Pundits Graham Taylor and Mark Lawrenson agreed that Manchester City deserved to win but expressed disappointment at Stoke City's under-par performance in the final.[69]

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron awarded the medals to individual players at Wembley Stadium.[70] Presenting the trophy was British Army Corporal Mark Ward, a lifelong Manchester City supporter who served in Afghanistan and whose bravery was rewarded with the Military Cross.[71] Corporal Ward presented the trophy to the winning captain, Carlos Tevez, after the game.[72]

Manchester City's victory set up a Community Shield match against rivals Manchester United – who City had beaten in the semi-finals – after United clinched the Premier League shortly before kick-off in the Final. The FA Cup winners are usually awarded qualification for the UEFA Europa League, but because Manchester City qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, the Europa League place was passed to Stoke City as runners-up. In the 2011 FA Community Shield match in August, the FA Cup winners Manchester City lost 3–2 to Manchester United after creating a 2–0 lead at half time.[73]

Manchester United winning the 2010–11 Premier League title earlier in the day meant double pride for Manchester as its teams claimed both of English football's blue ribbon competitions.[74][75] The '35 years' banner that had stood at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United which referenced to Manchester City's long trophy drought, was taken down in recognition of City's victory.[76]

The victory parade reaches Portland Street.

The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by both ITV and ESPN, with ITV providing the free-to-air coverage and ESPN being the pay-TV alternative. Television viewing figures were collated after the final, with a peak of 8.5 million viewers recorded across both channels.[6] ITV held the majority of the viewership, with a peak audience of 8.1 million during the last 30 minutes of the final and averaged at 6.68 million,[77] their highest viewing figures for an FA Cup since the competition moved to ITV from the BBC in 2009.[6] The pay-to-view alternative ESPN averaged 412,000 viewers throughout the day with a peak of 476,000.[78]

Manchester City and Stoke City had been scheduled to play in a Premier League fixture on the day of the FA Cup Final, but instead the match had to be moved to the following Tuesday,[79] making it the last mid-week game of the Premier League season, a match Manchester City won, 3–0.[80] Despite it being Manchester City's final home game of the season, they postponed their homecoming celebrations until the post-season out of respect for the opposition.[81]

Manchester City elected not to parade the trophy at the match as they did not wish to be seen as 'crass' in front of the visiting Stoke City supporters.[82] Instead, Manchester City were invited by Manchester City Council to host an open-top bus parade through the City of Manchester in celebration of their victory. The parade took place on 23 May 2011 and began at 18:00 starting at Albert Square outside Manchester Town Hall where 10,000 people were present to see the team set off on the bus parade with various streets of the city centre closed by 12:00 in preparation for the parade.[83] The open-top bus then travelled out of Manchester city centre via Princess Street, Portland Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Newton Street on onto Great Ancoats Street.[84] The parade finally reached Ashton New Road where thousands supporters were waiting at the gates of the City of Manchester Stadium to welcome the team home. The parade culminated in a special reception at the stadium, where 40,000 who claimed free tickets for the event were waiting.[85] Greater Manchester Police estimated that the parade attracted a crowd in excess of 100,000.[86]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2011 FA Cup final

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2011 FA Cup Final was the 130th final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic association football knockout competition.[1] It took place on 14 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London between Manchester City of the Premier League and Stoke City, also of the Premier League.[2] Manchester City won the match 1–0, with midfielder Yaya Touré scoring the only goal from 12 yards in the 74th minute.[2] A crowd of 88,643 attended the game, which was refereed by Martin Atkinson.[3] Manchester City reached the final after a 1–0 victory over Manchester United in the semi-finals, where Touré scored the winner, having overcome lower- and top-tier opponents in earlier rounds.[4] Stoke City, appearing in their first FA Cup final since 1972, advanced with a 5–0 semi-final win over Bolton Wanderers, having earlier defeated West Ham United 2–1 in the quarter-finals with goals from Danny Higginbotham and Matthew Etherington.[5][6] Their route included wins over Cardiff City (after a replay), Wolverhampton Wanderers, and others.[7] The victory represented Manchester City's fifth FA Cup title overall and their first since 1969, ending a 35-year wait for major silverware since their 1976 Football League Cup success.[8][2] Under manager Roberto Mancini, the triumph symbolized the club's rising ambitions amid heavy investment from owners Abu Dhabi United Group, boosting their profile and securing a place in the 2011 FA Community Shield.[9] For Stoke, managed by Tony Pulis, the runners-up finish marked a historic milestone but yielded no European qualification, as the FA Cup winners' UEFA Europa League spot passed to league position due to City's top-four Premier League standing.[10]

Background

Teams' seasons

Manchester City entered the 2010–11 Premier League season under the management of Roberto Mancini, who had taken over in December 2009 and guided the team to a strong campaign that saw them secure third place with 71 points from 21 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 60 goals while conceding 33.[11] This result marked their highest league finish since 1977 and qualified them for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.[12] Key to their success were significant summer investments, including the arrivals of midfielder Yaya Touré from Barcelona for £24 million and David Silva from Valencia for £24 million, both of whom bolstered the squad's creativity and dynamism in midfield.[13][14] The team demonstrated resilience with notable victories, such as a 1–0 win over Chelsea in November and a run of 19 unbeaten league games from November to April, which helped establish them as serious title challengers.[15] Stoke City, managed by Tony Pulis, finished 13th in the Premier League with 46 points from 13 wins, 7 draws, and 18 losses, maintaining their top-flight status through a gritty, defensive-oriented approach that emphasized physicality and set-piece prowess.[16] Pulis's long-ball style drew criticism but proved effective, particularly at home where the team earned 34 points from 10 wins and 4 draws at the Britannia Stadium, creating an intimidating atmosphere that contributed to upsets against higher-placed sides.[17][18] Standout performers included winger Matthew Etherington, who provided key assists and goals from the flanks, and defender Robert Huth, whose aerial presence and leadership anchored the backline amid a season of inconsistent away results.[19] Both teams' deep runs in the 2011 FA Cup exacerbated fixture congestion during the latter stages of the Premier League season, leading to postponed matches and rescheduling, such as the Manchester City–Stoke league encounter moved to accommodate cup commitments, which tested squad depth and rotation options.[20][21]

Historical significance

The 2011 FA Cup final marked the 130th edition of the world's oldest domestic football knockout competition, which had been contested annually since the 1871–72 season.[8] Held at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, the venue for all finals since the 2007 edition when Chelsea defeated Manchester United, the match drew an attendance of 88,643 spectators, reflecting the event's enduring popularity amid the growing dominance of Premier League clubs in the competition.[8][1] By 2011, Premier League teams had won 19 of the 19 finals since the league's inception in 1992, underscoring the final's role in highlighting the financial and competitive chasm between top-tier and lower-division sides.[8] For Manchester City, the 2011 final represented their seventh appearance in the competition's showpiece event, a history that included three previous victories in 1904 against Bolton Wanderers, 1934 against Portsmouth, and 1969 against Leicester City.[22] The last of those triumphs had come over four decades earlier, initiating a 35-year major trophy drought for the club since their 1976 League Cup win over Newcastle United.[23] This extended barren spell, spanning from the late 1960s league title to the early 2010s under new ownership, positioned the 2011 final as a pivotal moment in City's quest to reclaim elite status.[24] In contrast, the final was a historic milestone for Stoke City, marking their first-ever FA Cup final appearance—their previous deepest runs had culminated in semi-final defeats in 1899, 1971, and 1972.[25] The club's previous deepest runs had culminated in semi-final defeats in 1899, 1971, and 1972, with the latter loss to Arsenal preventing a breakthrough in an era of relative stability following promotion to the top flight in 1970.[26] This underdog narrative amplified the event's significance, as Stoke's journey encapsulated the FA Cup's tradition of rewarding perseverance for historically modest clubs.[27]

Path to the final

Manchester City

Manchester City's campaign in the 2010–11 FA Cup began with a challenging third-round tie against Championship side Leicester City. On 9 January 2011, the first leg at the Walkers Stadium ended in a 2–2 draw, with James Milner and Carlos Tevez scoring for City after Sol Bamba and Andy King had put Leicester ahead.[28] In the replay at Eastlands on 18 January, City advanced 4–2, with Tevez opening the scoring with a right-footed drive from 30 yards, followed by quick goals from Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson before Aleksandar Kolarov sealed the win late on; Paul Gallagher (from a penalty) and Lloyd Dyer replied for Leicester.[29] The fourth round pitted City against League One's Notts County, resulting in another replay after a 1–1 draw at Meadow Lane on 30 January, where Neal Bishop headed Notts ahead only for Edin Džeko to equalize late. In the replay at Eastlands on 20 February, City dominated with a 5–0 victory, as Vieira scored twice early, Tevez added a third, Džeko made it four, and Micah Richards completed the rout.[30] Progressing to the fifth round, City hosted Premier League rivals Aston Villa on 2 March and secured a 3–0 win, with Yaya Touré opening the scoring in the fifth minute, Mario Balotelli doubling the lead with a fine finish, and David Silva sealing it with a composed effort.[31][32] This set up a quarter-final home tie against Championship leaders Reading on 13 March, where Richards headed the winner from a Silva corner in the 73rd minute to give City a narrow 1–0 victory.[33][34] The semi-final on 16 April at Wembley Stadium saw City face crosstown rivals Manchester United in a highly anticipated Manchester derby, the first FA Cup semi-final between the two clubs. Touré's powerful 52nd-minute strike secured a 1–0 win, propelling City to their first FA Cup final in 30 years and intensifying the local rivalry.[4] Throughout their path to the final, Manchester City played seven matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding 5, demonstrating defensive solidity after early concessions. Key contributors included Touré and Džeko with two goals each, Tevez and Vieira with three each, underscoring the squad's depth under manager Roberto Mancini amid a strong overall season that saw them finish third in the Premier League.

Stoke City

Stoke City's journey to the 2011 FA Cup final marked their first appearance in the competition's showpiece event since 1972, achieved through a gritty progression that highlighted their resilience against varied opposition. Under manager Tony Pulis, the team navigated five rounds, including one replay, defeating Championship and lower-league sides with a blend of defensive solidity and opportunistic scoring, ultimately securing a semi-final berth with emphatic dominance. Their path featured narrow victories early on, building to more convincing displays as the tournament advanced. In the third round, Stoke hosted Championship side Cardiff City at the Britannia Stadium, where the match ended in a 1-1 draw after Tuncay Şanlı equalized Michael Chopra's opener in the 44th minute.[35] The replay at Cardiff City Stadium went to extra time, with Jon Walters scoring twice—once in the 104th minute from a header and again in the 116th from close range—to secure a 2-0 victory and advance Stoke.[36] The fourth round pitted Stoke against local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The game remained goalless until the 88th minute, when Robert Huth headed in a corner from Jermaine Pennant to clinch a 1-0 win, a result that underscored Stoke's proficiency from set pieces despite Wolves' pressure.[37] Advancing to the fifth round, Stoke faced League One leaders Brighton & Hove Albion at home. They dominated the first half with three headers: John Carew opened the scoring in the 14th minute from Rory Delap's long throw-in, followed by Walters in the 22nd off a Marc Wilson cross, and Ryan Shawcross just before halftime from another set-piece delivery. Brighton offered little threat, resulting in a comfortable 3-0 triumph.[38][39] The quarter-final against West Ham United at the Britannia Stadium was a tense affair, decided by Stoke's 2-1 scoreline. Huth again struck first in the 12th minute via a header from Delap's throw-in, but Frédéric Piquionne leveled for West Ham in the 30th minute. Danny Higginbotham sealed progression with a powerful 63rd-minute free-kick into the bottom corner, despite controversial refereeing decisions that saw multiple bookings.[6][40] Stoke's semi-final against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium produced their most commanding performance, a 5-0 rout that set a record for the largest margin in an FA Cup semi-final. Matthew Etherington opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a low drive, Huth added a header in the 20th from a Pennant free-kick, and Kenwyne Jones tapped in the third in the 28th after Bolton errors. Walters completed the scoring with goals in the 72nd and 85th minutes, the first a composed finish after breaking clear and the second a clinical strike, propelling Stoke to their historic final.[41] Pulis's tactics emphasized physicality and aerial prowess, leveraging long throw-ins from Delap and set-piece routines that yielded multiple goals across the run, compensating for Stoke's mid-table Premier League struggles where they finished 10th amid inconsistent form.[42][43]

Pre-match preparations

Venue and arrangements

The 2011 FA Cup final took place on 14 May 2011 at 3:00 PM BST.[44] The match was hosted at Wembley Stadium in London, which has a capacity of 90,000 following its complete rebuild and reopening in March 2007. The venue's pitch measures 105 metres in length by 68 metres in width, in line with UEFA standards for international matches.[45][46] A crowd of 88,643 attended the final, marking the highest attendance for the event since the stadium's 2007 reopening.[44] Each participating club, Manchester City and Stoke City, received an allocation of approximately 25,000 tickets, which were primarily distributed to supporters' clubs, season ticket holders, and members based on loyalty criteria. Ticket prices ranged from £65 for standard seating to £115 for premium locations behind the goals, representing increases of up to 22% from the previous year's final.[47][48] The final's scheduling on 14 May—earlier than the traditional late-May slot—was necessitated by Wembley Stadium's commitment to host the 2011 UEFA Champions League final on 28 May, with UEFA regulations prohibiting any events at the venue in the preceding two weeks to allow for preparations. This adjustment created conflicts with the Premier League calendar for the first time since 1934, prompting the postponement of several matches, including the Manchester City versus Stoke City league fixture originally set for the same date (rescheduled to 18 May). To mitigate broader overlaps, the entire penultimate round of Premier League games was shifted from Saturday to Sunday.[49][50]

Team news and broadcasting

Ahead of the 2011 FA Cup final, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini adopted a cautious tactical approach, emphasizing defensive solidity with a 4-2-3-1 formation to counter Stoke's physical style while exploiting transitions through creative midfield play.[51] The team faced fitness concerns over striker Carlos Tevez, who had aggravated a hamstring injury during a midweek match and was considered doubtful, potentially forcing Mario Balotelli to lead the attack.[52] Predicted lineups featured Joe Hart in goal; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, and Aleksandar Kolarov across the back; Gareth Barry and Yaya Touré anchoring midfield; with David Silva, Adam Johnson, Tevez, and Balotelli providing attacking flair.[53] Stoke City boss Tony Pulis prepared his side with a robust, direct strategy focused on set-pieces and long throws from Rory Delap to target forwards Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters, aiming to disrupt City's possession-based game through grit and aerial strength.[51] Injuries cast doubt over winger Matthew Etherington (hamstring) and defender Robert Huth (knee), both of whom had trained but remained uncertain; midfielder Dean Whitehead was available despite earlier disciplinary issues in the season.[52][54] Pre-match predictions placed Asmir Begović in goal; Andy Wilkinson, Huth, Ryan Shawcross, and Marc Wilson in defense; Jermaine Pennant, Wilson Palacios, Glenn Whelan, and Etherington in midfield; with Jones and Walters up front.[53] Media previews highlighted the contrast between Manchester City's high-spending squad, backed by Sheikh Mansour's investment, and Stoke's underdog resilience under Pulis, framing the match as a clash of financial power versus working-class determination.[55] The appointment of referee Martin Atkinson, a 40-year-old from West Yorkshire, drew attention due to his recent controversy with Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, though he was selected for his experience in high-profile games.[56] The final was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by ITV as the free-to-air option and ESPN as the pay-TV broadcaster, attracting a peak audience of 8 million viewers (52.6% share), with live match coverage averaging 6.8 million.[57] International coverage reached audiences in numerous countries via ESPN networks and other regional partners, while BBC Radio 5 Live and World Service provided live radio commentary.[58] Post-match highlights aired on ITV and were featured in BBC Sport's football programming.[59]

The match

Match summary

Manchester City began the 2011 FA Cup final against Stoke City with clear dominance in possession, controlling 59% of the ball throughout the match and enjoying even greater share in the opening exchanges.[60] Stoke, under Tony Pulis, adopted a resilient defensive setup, absorbing pressure while relying on counter-attacks led by long balls to Jon Walters and Kenwyne Jones. Early chances fell to City, including a fifth-minute shot from Carlos Tevez that was parried away by goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen, and an 11th-minute effort from Yaya Touré that sailed just wide.[1][59] As the first half progressed, City's attacking intent created further openings, with Mario Balotelli curling a 24th-minute shot that Sørensen tipped over the bar, and David Silva spurning a clear opportunity inside the box just before the interval.[1] Despite registering multiple attempts, City failed to break the deadlock, and the teams went into half-time level at 0-0, with Stoke's backline, anchored by Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth, holding firm against sustained pressure.[59] The second half saw Stoke introduce Dean Whitehead for Matthew Etherington in the 63rd minute to bolster midfield stability, while City substituted Adam Johnson for Gareth Barry in the 73rd minute to inject pace on the wing.[1] The breakthrough arrived in the 74th minute when David Silva laid the ball off to Mario Balotelli, whose shot was blocked by a defender. The loose ball fell to Touré, who struck a powerful low left-footed shot from 12 yards into the bottom corner, giving City a 1-0 lead.[1][59] Stoke mounted late pressure in search of an equalizer, with John Carew replacing Rory Delap in the 80th minute and Danny Pugh for Glenn Whelan at 85', shifting to a more attacking posture.[1] A notable chance arose in stoppage time when Walters rose highest from a corner and directed a header goalward, only for it to be cleared off the line by Vincent Kompany.[1] City, who had amassed 22 shots to Stoke's 9, saw out the remaining moments without further alarm, securing a 1-0 victory after 90 minutes with no need for extra time; despite a relatively quiet overall performance, Balotelli was named man of the match for his contributions, including the assist for Touré's goal.[60][61] The match passed without any bookings for City, though Stoke received two yellow cards late on.[60]

Match details

The 2011 FA Cup final was played on 14 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London, where Manchester City defeated Stoke City 1–0. The only goal of the match was scored by Manchester City's Yaya Touré in the 74th minute with a low left-footed shot from 12 yards after a loose ball in the penalty area.[1][60] The match was refereed by Martin Atkinson of West Yorkshire. His assistant referees were Adam Watts of Worcestershire and Simon Beck of Bedfordshire, while Lee Probert of Wiltshire served as the fourth official.[56]

Line-ups

Manchester City (4–2–3–1): Joe Hart (GK); Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany (c), Joleon Lescott, Aleksandar Kolarov; Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry; David Silva, Yaya Touré, Mario Balotelli; Carlos Tevez.
Substitutes not used: Shay Given (GK), Dedryck Boyata, James Milner, Edin Džeko.[1][44] Stoke City (4–4–2): Thomas Sørensen (GK); Andy Wilkinson, Ryan Shawcross (c), Robert Huth, Marc Wilson; Jermaine Pennant, Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap, Matthew Etherington; Jonathan Walters, Kenwyne Jones.
Substitutes not used: Asmir Begović (GK), Danny Collins, Abdoulaye Faye, Ricardo Fuller.[1][44]

Substitutions

Manchester City
Adam Johnson for Gareth Barry 73'
Pablo Zabaleta for Carlos Tevez 88'
Patrick Vieira for David Silva 90+2'[1] Stoke City
Dean Whitehead for Matthew Etherington 63'
John Carew for Rory Delap 80'
Danny Pugh for Glenn Whelan 85'[1]

Match statistics

StatisticManchester CityStoke City
Possession59%41%
Shots229
Shots on target131
Corners82
Fouls812
Yellow cards02
Yellow cards: Robert Huth (Stoke City, 39'), Andy Wilkinson (Stoke City, 75'). No red cards were issued.[60][62]

Aftermath

Immediate reactions

Following the final whistle, Manchester City players and staff expressed immense relief and joy at ending the club's 35-year wait for major silverware, with Yaya Touré, scorer of the decisive 74th-minute goal, describing it as "a fantastic win for the club and a dream come true for me" and emphasizing his happiness for the long-suffering fans.[63] Touré's strike, a powerful low shot from the edge of the box, was hailed as a pivotal moment that shifted the momentum decisively. Mario Balotelli, named man of the match for his commanding performance including a strong aerial presence and key interceptions, quipped self-deprecatingly about his season-long form with "All season, I have been shit," before adding that the team had respected Stoke while playing their game.[64] On the Stoke side, captain Ryan Shawcross praised the defensive resilience that kept City at bay for much of the match, noting the collective effort in frustrating the opposition's attacks despite the narrow defeat.[65] Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini viewed the victory as a foundational step, stating, "The first trophy is always important. It is about changing the history of the club and developing the mentality of winners," while signaling ambitions beyond the cup with plans for significant squad reinforcements.[64] Stoke manager Tony Pulis acknowledged City's superiority, saying, "Some of the players afterwards were disappointed with themselves. But congratulations to Manchester City. They were the better team and deserved to win," before highlighting the season's achievements: "It’s still been a great season, to be eighth in the Premier League, reach an FA Cup final and stay in the Premier League for a fourth season running."[64][66] Media coverage celebrated City's breakthrough as a long-overdue triumph for a club investing heavily in resurgence, with outlets like the BBC noting the 1-0 win secured their first major honor since 1976 and earned Europa League qualification.[59] Analysts praised Stoke's overachievement in reaching the final as underdogs from mid-table, crediting their gritty run past Bolton but lamenting a below-par display at Wembley. Referee Martin Atkinson's handling drew minimal criticism, with reports describing his performance as steady amid a physical contest that saw seven bookings but no major disputes.[67][9] On the pitch, the teams exchanged handshakes in a show of sportsmanship before service personnel presented the runners-up medals to Stoke players amid applause from their supporters, followed by the winners' medals and the FA Cup trophy presented to Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez by Corporal Mark Ward in the Royal Box.[68]

Celebrations and legacy

Following their 1–0 victory over Stoke City at Wembley Stadium, Manchester City players and staff returned to the city for celebrations that drew massive crowds. On 23 May 2011, the team participated in an open-top bus parade starting from Manchester Town Hall, proceeding through the city centre to the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad Stadium), where an estimated 100,000 fans gathered to honour the triumph and view the FA Cup trophy during a subsequent tour.[69][70] The win represented Manchester City's fifth FA Cup title overall and their first major trophy in 35 years, significantly bolstering manager Roberto Mancini's position and paving the way for the club's subsequent successes, including the 2012 Premier League title. Although the third-place finish in the 2010–11 Premier League had already secured Champions League qualification for the 2011–12 season, the FA Cup victory entitled the club to a UEFA Europa League group-stage spot, which, due to their Champions League qualification, was awarded to the FA Cup runners-up, Stoke City.[71][72] For Stoke City, the appearance marked their first FA Cup final since 1972, a milestone under manager Tony Pulis that highlighted the resilience of his tenure and earned them a UEFA Europa League place for 2011–12—their inaugural European campaign—as runners-up when the winners' allocation shifted due to Manchester City's higher qualification. This achievement underscored the Pulis era's emphasis on physicality and organization, motivating Stoke's continued competitiveness, including a 2013 FA Cup semi-final run, and cementing the club's status as a stable Premier League mid-table side.[72][73] The final's cultural resonance extended beyond the pitch, dispelling Manchester City's long-standing "nearly men" reputation from decades of underachievement and amplifying media scrutiny of the club's transformation under Abu Dhabi United Group ownership since 2008. Broadcast on ITV1, the match drew a British television audience exceeding eight million viewers, reflecting sustained public interest in the competition despite shifting football priorities. The victory spurred fanbase expansion, with attendance at home games rising sharply in subsequent seasons, and in 2025 retrospectives, it is often cited as the catalyst for City's modern dynasty, initiating a decade of domestic dominance.[74][57][71][75][76]

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