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2013 FA Cup final
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2013 FA Cup Final
Wembley Stadium
The match was played at Wembley Stadium.
Event2012–13 FA Cup
Manchester City Wigan Athletic
0 1
Date11 May 2013
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Man of the MatchCallum McManaman (Wigan Athletic)
RefereeAndre Marriner (Birmingham)
Attendance86,254
← 2012
2014 →

The 2013 FA Cup final was an association football match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic on 11 May 2013 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, organised by the Football Association (FA). It marked the 132nd final of the Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest football cup competition. It was Wigan's first FA Cup final and Manchester City's tenth. En route to the final, Manchester City defeated Watford, Stoke City, Leeds United, Barnsley and Chelsea; Wigan Athletic beat Bournemouth (after a replay), Macclesfield Town, Huddersfield Town, Everton and Millwall.

The match kicked off in the early evening in front of 86,254 spectators and was refereed by Andre Marriner. After a goalless first half, Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second yellow card, becoming the third player to be sent off in an FA Cup final. One minute into injury time, Wigan Athletic won a corner kick which was taken by Shaun Maloney: Ben Watson outjumped Jack Rodwell and headed the ball over Joe Hart, the Manchester City goalkeeper, and into the goal to secure a 1–0 win. The cup was jointly lifted by playing captain Emmerson Boyce and club captain Gary Caldwell. Wigan Athletic's Callum McManaman was named as man of the match.

Manchester City and their semi-final opponent Chelsea had already qualified for the following season's Champions League by virtue of the clubs' league positions. Wigan Athletic secured qualification for the 2013–14 Europa League competition after they had won their semi-final against Millwall. Two days after the final, Manchester City sacked manager Roberto Mancini, confirming rumours of his fate before the match. Three days later, Wigan Athletic were relegated from the Premier League following a 4–1 loss to Arsenal, becoming the first club to take part in the FA Cup Final and be relegated from the highest tier of English football in the same season since Middlesbrough in 1997.

Background

[edit]

The world's oldest football cup competition,[1][2] the FA Cup is an annual knockout tournament involving professional and amateur men's football clubs in the English football league system.[3] The final of the 2012–13 FA Cup was the 132nd to be played since the tournament was first held in 1872.[1] Manchester City were making their tenth appearance in an FA Cup final since the club was founded in 1880.[4] They had won the cup five times (in 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969 and 2011) and were runners-up four times (1926, 1933, 1955 and 1981).[5] Conversely, Wigan Athletic were making their first appearance in an FA Cup Final since the club was founded in 1932.[5][6]

Manchester City had won both Premier League games between the sides during the regular season. They secured a 2–0 victory at the DW Stadium in November 2012 with second-half goals from Mario Balotelli and James Milner and a 1–0 win the following April at the City of Manchester Stadium after a late goal from Carlos Tevez.[7][8][9] The final was being played before the last two games of the Premier League season,[10][11] with Wigan Athletic in eighteenth place in the league, 40 points behind Manchester City in second position.[12] Manchester City had beaten Wigan Athletic in each of the most recent seven Premier League matches between the sides.[13]

Wigan Athletic's leading scorer during the regular season was Arouna Koné who had 13 goals, 11 in the league and 2 in the FA Cup.[14] Sergio Agüero led the scoring for Manchester City with 15 goals during the season, including 3 in the FA Cup.[15]

Route to the final

[edit]
See also: 2012–13 FA Cup

Manchester City

[edit]
Manchester City's route to the final
Round Opposition Score
3rd Watford (H) 3–0
4th Stoke City (A) 1–0
5th Leeds United (H) 4–0
QF Barnsley (H) 5–0
SF Chelsea (N) 2–1
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

As a Premier League team, Manchester City entered the 2012–13 FA Cup in the third round, in which they were drawn at home against EFL Championship team Watford. Midway through the first half, Tevez gave Manchester City the lead with a free kick from around 25 yards (23 m). Costel Pantilimon then saved a Fernando Forestieri shot for Watford. One minute before half-time, Gareth Barry doubled Manchester City's lead with a header. In second-half stoppage time, Manchester City academy player Rony Lopes scored from close range to secure a 3–0 victory for his side.[16][17] In doing so, he became the club's youngest ever goalscorer at the age of seventeen years and eight days.[18] Manchester City progressed to a fourth round match against fellow Premier League side Stoke City away at the Britannia Stadium. Despite long spells of possession for the visiting team, the first half ended goalless. David Silva struck the Stoke goalpost and Tevez saw shots saved by the Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen, before Pablo Zabaleta converted a cross from Agüero with four minutes remaining. Manchester City won the match 1–0 and progressed to the fifth round where they faced Championship side Leeds United at the City of Manchester Stadium.[19]

Yaya Touré gave Manchester City the lead in the fifth minute, taking the ball past Leeds United goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and scoring after a pass from Tevez. Agüero then doubled his side's lead when he scored from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Tom Lees. Tevez scored Manchester City's third from close range soon after half-time before Agüero scored 15 minutes from the end of the match to secure a 4–0 victory.[20] In the quarter-final, Manchester City's opponents were Championship club Barnsley at home. Tevez scored the first goal for Manchester City in the eleventh minute after Silva's volley rebounded off the goalpost. Aleksandar Kolarov and Tevez then scored in quick succession to make it 3–0 at half-time. Five minutes after the interval, Tevez completed his hat-trick, scoring from Samir Nasri's pass. Midway through the second half, Silva scored after his initial shot was kept out by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele to make it 5–0, which was the final score.[21]

In the semi-final, Manchester City faced defending FA Cup champions Chelsea for the first time in the competition since 1971, the match being held at Wembley, a neutral venue.[22] Ten minutes before half-time, Manchester City took the lead. Agüero's shot bounced off Chelsea's defender César Azpilicueta and the ball fell to Nasri who scored. Vincent Kompany then shot off-target shortly before half-time, and two minutes after the interval Barry's cross found Agüero, who headed the ball into the Chelsea goal off the post while goalkeeper Petr Čech remained motionless. Demba Ba then scored past Pantilimon to reduce the deficit for Chelsea but the match ended 2–1 and Manchester City progressed to the final.[23]

Wigan Athletic

[edit]
Wigan Athletic's route to the final
Round Opposition Score
3rd
Replay 		AFC Bournemouth (H)
AFC Bournemouth (A) 		1–1
0–1
4th Macclesfield Town (A) 1–0
5th Huddersfield Town (A) 4–1
QF Everton (A) 3–0
SF Millwall (N) 2–0
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

Premier League side Wigan Athletic's FA Cup campaign also began in the third round, in which they faced League One side AFC Bournemouth at the DW Stadium. Roberto Martínez made nine changes to the team that had played in the league four days earlier.[24] Eunan O'Kane scored for the visiting side towards the end of the first half with a strike from distance. Wigan Athletic hit the Bournemouth crossbar twice in the second half before they won a penalty after Simon Francis fouled Maynor Figueroa in the area in the 70th minute. Shwan Jalal saved Jordi Gómez's penalty kick but Gómez scored from the rebound to make it 1–1, and ensured the tie would need to be settled in a replay.[25] At Dean Court ten days later, the match was settled by a single goal: in the first half, Bournemouth's Harry Arter conceded possession of the ball to Mauro Boselli whose shot from around 20 yards (18 m) flew into the top corner of the goal, securing a 1–0 win for Wigan Athletic.[26] They were drawn against non-league team Macclesfield Town in the fourth round. To avoid postponement, snow had to be cleared from the pitch at Moss Rose on the morning of the game. Six minutes into the match, Thierry Audel fouled Callum McManaman in the Macclesfield penalty area and Gómez scored the resulting penalty to give Wigan Athletic the lead. The home side had several opportunities to score, including a header from Audel from 6 yards (5.5 m) which went straight to Wigan Athletic's debutant goalkeeper Joel Robles. Macclesfield's appeals for a penalty late in the match were turned down by the referee and Wigan Athletic won 1–0. Victory gave them their second appearance in the fifth round of the FA Cup since the founding of the club.[27]

In the fifth round, Wigan Athletic were drawn away against Championship team Huddersfield Town. McManaman gave the visiting side the lead in the 31st minute, shooting into the top corner of the goal after a pass from James McArthur. Five minutes before half-time, Koné doubled his side's lead after Gómez had passed from a McManaman cross before McArthur made it 3–0 when he scored in the 56th minute. Lee Novak scored with a header from a Calum Woods cross to reduce Huddersfield Town's deficit but with a minute of the match remaining, Koné scored his second to secure a 4–1 win for Wigan Athletic.[28] Their quarter-final opponents were Premier League side Everton whom they faced at Goodison Park. Wigan Athletic scored three goals within four minutes in the first half: just after half an hour, Wigan Athletic's Figueroa opened the scoring when he headed in a corner. McManaman then doubled the lead when a mistake by Phil Neville allowed him to take the ball past Everton's goalkeeper Ján Mucha and shoot. Gómez then struck a long-range shot into the Everton goal to make it 3–0, the final score. The win ensured Wigan Athletic would play in the first FA Cup semi-final appearance in the club's history.[29]

Wigan Athletic's fifth appearance at Wembley Stadium saw them face Championship side Millwall in the semi-final. In the first half, Koné's cross found Shaun Maloney who volleyed the ball past David Forde in the Millwall goal to give Wigan Athletic the lead. With twelve minutes of the match remaining, Wigan Athletic broke out of defence and Gómez's pass found McManaman who took the ball round Forde to double his side's lead. Wigan Athletic won the match 2–0 and progressed to the first FA Cup final in the club's history.[30]

Match

[edit]

Pre-match

[edit]
Roberto Mancini
Manchester City's manager Roberto Mancini's position was a matter of speculation before the final.

Before the match, it was reported in The Daily Telegraph that manager Roberto Mancini's job was under threat after he failed to lead Manchester City to a defence of their league title. It was suggested that the Málaga manager Manuel Pellegrini was to be Mancini's successor.[31] The referee for the match was Andre Marriner who had officiated at Wembley Stadium twice previously, at the 2010 FA Community Shield and the 2010 Football League Championship play-off final. He was assisted by Stephen Child and Simon Long, Anthony Taylor was the fourth official and Gary Beswick acted as the reserve assistant referee.[32]

Manchester City were considered strong favourites to win the match by the British media.[33][34] Wigan Athletic wore the club's black away kit for the final, used the away team dressing room and were allocated the East End of the stadium. Manchester City fans occupied the West End and the team played in their home kit after winning the coin toss to decide who would wear which kit.[35] Ticket prices for the final started at £45 and were available at £65, £85 and £115, with a £10 discount for concessions.[36] Manchester City received an initial allocation of 25,000 tickets, later increased to 31,779, and Wigan Athletic requested 21,000 tickets, later increased to a 25,000 allocation.[37][38]

Despite expectations in the media that Pantilimon would retain his position as the Manchester City goalkeeper for the final, he was dropped to the substitute's bench in place of Joe Hart.[34][39] Before the match, Mancini said "I decided this because I wanted this for this game but it doesn't change anything ... We know Costel is a good keeper."[40] Manchester City had no injury problems, Touré being included in the team after suffering from a muscle problem.[41][42] Manchester City made eight changes to the starting line-up from their previous match, a Premier League game against West Bromwich; only Hart, Nasri and Tevez keeping their place.[40][43] Antolín Alcaraz returned to the Wigan Athletic starting lineup after recovering from a torn hamstring in place of Gary Caldwell, and Figueroa was ruled out with a groin injury.[40][42][44][45] Ben Watson dropped to the substitute's bench and was replaced by Gómez.[40][45] Wigan Athletic adopted a 3–4–1–2 formation,[46] and Manchester City played as a 4–2–3–1.[47]

The kick-off time for the final was 5:15 p.m. as opposed to the traditional 3 p.m. This was controversial, particularly with regard to both sets of supporters facing difficulties in guaranteeing train transport back to the North West of England after the match.[48] The secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club stated that "Not only does it show that [the FA] don't care but it shows that they don't know", and a spokesperson for the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club noted that "The FA don't think about stuff like young children of four or six years old potentially not getting home till 2 a.m. if they are travelling by coach."[49] It was also the subject of a cross-party early day motion in the House of Commons.[50]

Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan led out his team before kick-off along with manager Martínez.[40][51] The traditional pre-match anthem, "Abide with Me", was performed by musical quartet Amore alongside the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The national anthem was also performed by Amore with the Band of the Grenadier Guards.[52] Paralympic footballer Dave Clarke and David Bernstein, chairman of the FA, were introduced to the teams prior to kick-off.[40] In the United Kingdom, the match was televised by ITV and ESPN.[32]

Summary

[edit]

First half

[edit]

Wigan Athletic kicked off the match around 5:15 p.m. in front of a crowd of 86,254.[53] Two minutes into the game, Zabaleta made a run down the right wing and crossed the ball, which took a deflection before falling to Silva whose volley was blocked by McArthur. Agüero was then fouled by Alcaraz on the edge of the Wigan Athletic penalty area but Tevez's subsequent free kick was blocked with the ball finding Touré whose shot was pushed away by Robles. In the ninth minute, Wigan Athletic's McManaman made a run down the right-hand side of the pitch after a pass from Koné. He cut inside and struck the ball from around 8 yards (7 m), but his shot went wide of the Manchester City post. Wigan Athletic then enjoyed a spell of pressure before Silva's 18th-minute shot for Manchester City was blocked. Midway through the half, Maloney's shot from around 30 yards (27 m) was off-target before Matija Nastasić failed to score with a long-range strike for Manchester City. In the 29th minute, Silva passed the ball into the Wigan Athletic penalty area and found Tevez, who stretched to shoot, but Robles made a save with his boot. Tevez's shot from the corner of the Wigan Athletic penalty area was too high before Gomez's strike from 25 yards (23 m) was blocked by Kompany. With nine minutes of the half remaining, Alcaraz ran through the middle of the pitch and passed to McManaman who went round Nastasić, before his shot was blocked by Zabaleta. Nasri's cross was then headed off-target by Silva. In the 41st minute, Zabaleta's shot was blocked but the ball fell to Barry whose curling strike was saved by Robles. Just before half-time, Robles saved Nasri's 20-yard (18 m) shot and the half ended 0–0.[40]

Second half

[edit]

Neither side made any changes to their playing personnel during the interval and Manchester City kicked off the second half. Two minutes in, McCarthy's shot was wide before Agüero's attempt to score was defended by Emmerson Boyce. A corner from Barry was then headed onto the roof of the Wigan Athletic net by Kompany. In the 54th minute, Manchester City made the first substitution of the game with Milner coming on to replace Nasri. On the hour mark, Zabaleta became the first player of the match to be shown the yellow card after he committed a professional foul on McManaman who had made a break for Wigan Athletic. In the 64th minute, Gomez's shot from 25 yards (23 m) went over the Manchester City crossbar before Kompany tackled McManaman after the Wigan Athletic player had dribbled past both Silva and Gaël Clichy. Five minutes later, Jack Rodwell was brought on in place of Tevez in Manchester City's second change of the game. In the 72nd minute, Roger Espinoza fouled Milner who took the resulting free kick himself, from which Rodwell's header was straight at Robles. Nastasić was then booked for a foul on McManaman before Maloney's cross struck the Manchester City crossbar. In the 81st minute, Wigan Athletic made their first substitution, with Ben Watson coming on to replace Gomez. Three minutes later, Kompany received a poor pass from Clichy in the centre circle which Koné intercepted. He passed to McManaman who was fouled by Zabaleta around 30 yards (27 m) from the Manchester City goal. As a result, Zabaleta was sent off after receiving a second booking, and became the third player to be dismissed in an FA Cup final. Barry was then shown the yellow card for bringing down Maloney. In the final minute of the match, Wigan Athletic won a corner which was played in by Maloney. Watson beat Rodwell to the ball at the near post and headed it inside the far post of the goal to give Wigan Athletic the lead. Three minutes into stoppage time, Robles was booked for time-wasting and Manchester City brought on Edin Džeko for Barry. A minute later, the final whistle was blown and Wigan Athletic had won the match 1–0, securing the FA Cup for the first time in their history.[40]

Details

[edit]
Manchester City0–1Wigan Athletic
Report, Statistics, Manchester City squad numbers, Wigan Athletic squad numbers Watson 90+1'
Attendance: 86,254
Manchester City
Wigan Athletic
GK 1 England Joe Hart
RB 5 Argentina Pablo Zabaleta Yellow card 60' Yellow-red card 84'
CB 4 Belgium Vincent Kompany (c)
CB 33 Serbia Matija Nastasić Yellow card 75'
LB 22 France Gaël Clichy
RM 21 Spain David Silva
CM 42 Ivory Coast Yaya Touré
CM 18 England Gareth Barry Yellow card 87' downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
LM 8 France Samir Nasri downward-facing red arrow 54'
CF 16 Argentina Sergio Agüero
CF 32 Argentina Carlos Tevez downward-facing red arrow 69'
Substitutes:
GK 30 Romania Costel Pantilimon
DF 6 England Joleon Lescott
DF 13 Serbia Aleksandar Kolarov
MF 7 England James Milner upward-facing green arrow 54'
MF 14 Spain Javi García
MF 17 England Jack Rodwell upward-facing green arrow 69'
FW 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Džeko upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
Manager:
Italy Roberto Mancini
Manchester City vs Wigan lineup
GK 1 Spain Joel Robles Yellow card 90+3'
RB 17 Barbados Emmerson Boyce (c)
CB 33 Austria Paul Scharner
CB 3 Paraguay Antolín Alcaraz
LB 18 Honduras Roger Espinoza
RM 4 Republic of Ireland James McCarthy
CM 16 Scotland James McArthur
LM 14 Spain Jordi Gómez downward-facing red arrow 81'
RF 15 England Callum McManaman
CF 2 Ivory Coast Arouna Koné
LF 10 Scotland Shaun Maloney
Substitutes:
GK 26 Oman Ali Al-Habsi
DF 5 Scotland Gary Caldwell
DF 25 Spain Román Golobart
MF 8 England Ben Watson upward-facing green arrow 81'
MF 20 Scotland Fraser Fyvie
FW 9 Argentina Franco Di Santo
FW 11 Chile Ángelo Henríquez
Manager:
Spain Roberto Martínez

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.
Ben Watson
Ben Watson (pictured in June 2013) scored the only goal of the final.
Statistics[56]
Manchester City Wigan Athletic
Total shots 15 15
Shots on target 12 7
Ball possession 52% 48%
Corner kicks 5 3
Fouls committed 11 5
Offsides 4 2
Yellow cards 3 1
Red cards 1 0

Post-match

[edit]
Members of the Wigan Athletic board holding the FA Cup trophy following their team's victory

The cup was jointly lifted by playing captain Boyce and club captain Caldwell.[57] Wigan Athletic's McManaman was named man of the match.[55] On 20 May, Wigan Athletic had an open-top bus tour of the town to celebrate the FA Cup victory.[58] Zabaleta became the third player to be sent off in an FA Cup final, after Kevin Moran (in the 1985 final) and José Antonio Reyes (in 2005).[59][60][61] As FA Cup winners, Wigan Athletic received £1.8 million from the FA Cup Prize Fund, and Manchester City earned £900,000.[62]

Sporting Life described the win as the "biggest FA Cup final shock" since Wimbledon's defeat of Liverpool in the 1988 final.[63] Other commentators went further with Fox Sports, BBC Sport and FourFourTwo all saying it was one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history, and bookmaker William Hill agreeing.[64][65][66][67] In a statistical analysis performed by Forbes, the 2013 final was the tenth-biggest "surprise" result in the history of the FA Cup.[68] European newspapers also commented on the shock result, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Die Welt and Le Figaro all noting the historical significance of the event.[69][70][71]

Wigan Athletic lost their next Premier League match, a 4–1 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and were consequently relegated to the Championship. In doing so, they became the first club ever to have won the FA Cup and be relegated from the highest tier of English football in the same season.[72] Mancini was dismissed days after the final with the club owners citing that he had "failed to achieve any of the club's targets, with the exception of qualification for next season's Champions League".[73] His assistant, Brian Kidd, took temporary charge of the club and they ended the season with a 2–0 victory at Reading followed by a 3–2 home defeat by Norwich City to finish second in the Premier League.[74][75]

Because Manchester City and their semi-final opponent Chelsea had already qualified for the following season's Champions League by virtue of their league positions, Wigan Athletic had already gained a place in the group stage of the 2013–14 Europa League competition by winning their semi-final match.[76] They failed to progress to the knockout stage, finishing bottom of Group D.[77]

Pellegrini was appointed as the full-time replacement for Mancini in June 2013.[78] Defender Joleon Lescott later reflected that "it was a little bit weird on the morning of the final. We were eating breakfast together and the TVs were on with Sky Sports News reporting that Mancini was going to get sacked".[64] In early June, Wigan's manager Martínez left the club and joined Everton, being replaced at his former club by Owen Coyle.[79][80] The final drew a peak television audience of 9.4 million.[48] Despite the criticism of the early evening kick-off time, the BBC confirmed that subsequent finals would be started at a similar time as part of their new deal to broadcast the final from 2014. However, the broadcaster agreed to schedule the match as the last game of the domestic season.[48]

Wigan Athletic defeated Manchester City again in the sixth round of the following season's FA Cup, winning 2–1 at the City of Manchester Stadium,[81] but failed to retain the trophy after they lost in a penalty shoot-out against Arsenal in the semi-final.[82] The 2013 finalists met for a third FA Cup tie in the 2017–18 tournament where Wigan Athletic, then in League One (the third tier of English football), won the fifth round tie 1–0 at the DW Stadium,[83] which was described by BBC Sport as "one of the biggest FA Cup giant-killings".[84]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

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

2013 FA Cup final

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2013 FA Cup Final was an match contested on 11 May 2013 at in , , between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic, the two remaining clubs in the competition. Wigan Athletic emerged victorious with a 1–0 win, thanks to a 91st-minute header by substitute Ben Watson from a corner, securing the club's first major trophy in its 81-year history. The match kicked off at 5:15 pm BST in front of a crowd of 86,254 spectators. Managed by , Manchester City entered as favorites after winning the previous season's title. , under Roberto Martinez, had a challenging route to the final. The game was marked by Wigan's energetic play, highlighted by Callum McManaman's impressive performance on the wing, while City struggled to create chances despite dominating possession. The outcome proved a significant upset, as finished the season in 18th place and were relegated the day after the final, while City's loss contributed to Mancini's departure as manager shortly thereafter. , meanwhile, soon took up the managerial role at Everton. The victory underscored the FA Cup's reputation for producing dramatic giant-killings, with Wigan's triumph celebrated as one of the competition's memorable underdog stories.

Background

Competition and Venue

The 2013 FA Cup final was the 132nd edition of the (FA Cup), recognised as the world's oldest national football cup competition, having been established in the 1871–72 season by . Contested annually as a knockout tournament open to clubs from across the English football , it culminates in a showpiece match that has long symbolised the competition's tradition of pitting underdogs against established powers. The final featured sides Manchester City and Wigan Athletic. The match was hosted at in , , the iconic venue that has served as the permanent home for the since the stadium's reconstruction and reopening in 2007. With a of 90,000, Wembley is the largest stadium in the and a fitting stage for the competition's prestige, having previously hosted finals at its original site from 1923 to 2000. The 2013 final drew an attendance of 86,254 spectators. Scheduled for 11 May , the game kicked off at 5:15 p.m. BST under partly cloudy conditions with a high of about 14°C. The on offer underscored the final's financial significance, with £1.8 million allocated to the winners and £900,000 to the runners-up, in addition to earnings from earlier rounds.

Teams' Seasons and Form

Manchester City arrived at the 2013 FA Cup final as the holders of the title from the previous season, having secured their first English top-flight championship in 44 years with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011-12 campaign. Under manager , who had guided the club to that triumph, City mounted a strong challenge in 2012-13 but ultimately finished second in the with 78 points, 11 behind winners Manchester United. The squad featured pivotal figures such as goalkeeper , who earned a reputation for crucial saves, captain , the defensive leader and occasional goalscorer, and forward , whose pace and finishing were central to the team's attack. Wigan Athletic, in contrast, endured a turbulent 2012-13 season under manager , spending much of the campaign in the relegation zone and relying on late surges to stay competitive. The team finished 18th with 36 points, confirming their drop to the after eight years in the top flight, with relegation sealed by a 4-1 defeat to just three days after the . Martínez's side was known for its attacking flair but defensive vulnerabilities, highlighted by key contributors like midfielder Ben Watson, who provided tenacity in midfield; winger , whose dribbling created chances; and striker , the club's top scorer with 11 league goals. The head-to-head record between the teams added intrigue to the final, as had inflicted City's first-ever home defeat to them with a 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on 15 September 2012, thanks to goals from and . City responded with wins in the return fixture (2-0 at on 28 November 2012) and a 1-0 home on 17 2013, but 's earlier upset underscored their potential to frustrate the favorites. Leading into the final, City's form had faltered with an inconsistent run that cost them the league title, including dropped points in key matches during . , meanwhile, were locked in a desperate survival push, winning two of their last nine league games but unable to avoid the drop despite their cup progress.

Route to the Final

Manchester City

Manchester City, as a club, entered the in the third round and progressed to the final without needing any replays. In the third round on 5 January 2013, Manchester City hosted at the and secured a 3–0 victory. opened the scoring with a 25-yard free-kick in the 24th minute, followed by Gareth Barry's header just before halftime in the 44th minute, and substitute Marcos Lopes added a third in the 90th minute to complete the comfortable win. The fourth round saw City travel to Stoke City on 26 January 2013, where they edged a 1–0 win at the Britannia Stadium. The match remained goalless until the 84th minute, when volleyed home from a corner to send City through to the fifth round. On 17 February 2013, in the fifth round, Manchester City hosted United and delivered a dominant 4–0 performance at home. scored early in the 5th minute, converted a penalty in the 15th minute, Tevez added a third in the 52nd minute, and Agüero completed his brace in the 74th minute, ensuring advancement to the quarter-finals. The quarter-final on 9 March 2013 pitted against at the , resulting in a resounding 5–0 triumph. Tevez netted a with goals in the 11th, 31st, and 50th minutes, struck in the 27th minute, and rounded off the scoring in the 65th minute, propelling into the semi-finals. In the semi-final on 14 April 2013 at , faced holders Chelsea and prevailed 2–1. gave the lead in the 35th minute with a low shot, Agüero extended the advantage two minutes into the second half with a looping header in the 47th minute, and pulled one back for Chelsea in the 66th minute, but held on to reach the final.

Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic entered the in the third round, navigating a challenging path marked by resilient performances and notable upsets against lower-division sides, culminating in their first-ever appearance in the final. Amid a precarious campaign where they battled relegation, the Latics demonstrated cup pedigree by overcoming and non-league opposition, as well as a shock victory over fellow top-flight team Everton. Their run required just one replay and featured efficient finishing, with several players contributing multiple goals across the ties. The third round brought a home draw against League One side on 5 January 2013, ending 1–1 after converted a second-attempt penalty to equalize Eunan O'Kane's earlier strike. The replay at on 15 January 2013 saw Wigan secure a narrow 1–0 victory, with scoring from 25 yards in the 52nd minute to advance them. In the fourth round, Wigan traveled to Conference Premier outfit on 26 January 2013 and prevailed 1–0, thanks to another penalty in the seventh minute following a foul on . The fifth round pitted them against Championship hosts on 17 February 2013, where Wigan ran out convincing 4–1 winners; McManaman opened the scoring in the 31st minute, added a brace (40th and 89th minutes), and netted in the 56th, despite Lee Novak's reply for the Terriers. The quarter-finals delivered one of the tournament's standout results, as stunned rivals Everton 3–0 away at on 9 March 2013. headed in the opener from a corner in the 30th minute, followed by McManaman's low drive a minute later and 's clinical finish two minutes after that, all within a frantic four-minute spell. 's momentum carried into the semi-final at on 13 April 2013 against side , whom they defeated 2–0. volleyed home the first goal in the 25th minute from a Jean Beauséjour cross, and McManaman sealed progression with a composed finish in the 60th minute after a swift counter-attack.
RoundDateOpponentVenueScoreKey Goal Scorers (Wigan)
Third Round5 January 2013DW Stadium (home)1–1 (70' pen)
Third Round Replay15 January 2013 (away)0–1Boselli (52')
Fourth Round26 January 2013Macclesfield Town (away)0–1 (7' pen)
Fifth Round17 February 2013Huddersfield TownJohn Smith's Stadium (away)1–4McManaman (31'), Koné (40', 89'), McArthur (56')
Quarter-final9 March 2013Everton (away)0–3 (30'), McManaman (31'), (33')
Semi-final13 April 2013 (neutral)0–2Maloney (25'), McManaman (60')

Pre-Match

Officials and Broadcasting

The match officials for the 2013 FA Cup final were led by from the Birmingham , who had previously officiated high-profile fixtures including the 2010 Community Shield. His assistant referees were Stephen Child from the London and Simon Long from the Cornwall , with Anthony Taylor from the Cheshire serving as the fourth official and Gary Beswick from the Durham as the reserve assistant referee. These appointments were announced by the on April 17, 2013, ensuring a team experienced in matches to handle the occasion at . In the , the final was broadcast live on ITV and , with ITV's coverage commencing at 3:15 p.m. BST ahead of the 5:15 p.m. kick-off to allow for extensive pre-match build-up. ITV's presentation was hosted by in the studio, featuring analysis from former players , , and , while provided commentary alongside co-commentator ; pitch-side reporting came from . 's coverage, also starting early in the afternoon, was anchored by and from , with punditry from , , , , and Jason Roberts. Internationally, the match was distributed via networks, reaching audiences in the United States and other regions, underscoring the FA Cup's global appeal despite domestic broadcasting rights being split between the two outlets. Pre-kickoff arrangements followed longstanding FA Cup traditions, including the performance of the national anthem "God Save the Queen" by the choir Amore, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to honor the occasion and unite spectators. The trophy presentation setup involved the historic being displayed on a plinth near the royal box, with preparations for potential extra time and penalties in place, though no specific entertainment beyond standard interval activities like player warm-ups was featured, aligning with the competition's focus on the football itself. The decision to schedule the kick-off at 5:15 p.m. drew significant criticism from fans, particularly those traveling from , who argued it complicated return journeys due to limited late train services and potential overtime extending play beyond 7:30 p.m. Supporters of both Manchester City and Wigan Athletic voiced concerns over viewer fatigue following earlier matches that day, with some accusing of prioritizing television ratings over supporter convenience. FA chairman David Bernstein defended the timing, stating it aimed to maximize viewership by aligning with peak evening audiences rather than financial motives, though this did little to quell the backlash from fan groups.

Team Lineups and Predictions

Manchester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the 2013 FA Cup final, with in goal behind a defensive line of , , , and . The midfield was anchored by and , supporting an attacking trio of , , and behind lone striker . Substitutes included (GK), , , , , , and . No major injuries affected City's squad, allowing manager to field a near full-strength team focused on defending their title. Wigan Athletic adopted a 3-5-2 formation, featuring loanee goalkeeper protected by central defenders , Paul Scharner, and . The wing-backs were and , with James McCarthy, , and in central midfield, and forwards and up top. The bench consisted of (GK), , Ben Watson, , , , and Roman Golobart. Wigan had no significant absences, though midfielder Ben Watson was returning from a long-term leg injury and started on the substitutes' bench. Pre-match predictions heavily favored Manchester City as overwhelming favorites, with betting odds listing them at around 1/4 to win, reflecting their status as defending champions and squad depth. Wigan, battling relegation in the , were priced as 8/1 underdogs, but media coverage highlighted the potential morale boost a victory could provide for their survival campaign against City's title defense ambitions.

Match

First Half

The 2013 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Athletic began with Wigan adopting an aggressive approach, pressing high and disrupting City's rhythm from the opening whistle. 's early dominance in possession allowed them to launch quick counters, with playing a key role in transitioning play forward. In the 9th minute, Koné threaded a precise pass to on the right flank; McManaman cut inside but curled his left-footed effort wide of Joe Hart's near post, squandering Wigan's clearest opportunity of the opening exchanges. Manchester City responded by asserting control, enjoying periods of sustained possession but struggling to penetrate Wigan's organized defense. An early shot from in the 4th minute was parried by goalkeeper , who was deputizing for the injured . City's best chance came in the 29th minute, as and combined on the left before Silva's cutback found , whose low drive was tipped around the post by a diving Robles. Wigan remained resilient on the break, nearly capitalizing again in the 34th minute when appealed for a penalty after tangling with in the box, but referee waved play on. Moments later, in the 36th minute, surged forward to set up McManaman, whose shot was blocked by a timely intervention from Zabaleta. The half concluded without goals, leaving the score at 0-0, as Wigan's counter-attacking threat kept City at bay despite the latter's growing territorial advantage toward the interval. Match reports noted City's slight edge in possession at around 55%, with six shots (three on target) compared to Wigan's five attempts (two on target), underscoring the underdogs' defensive solidity.

Second Half

The second half commenced with Manchester City ramping up the pressure, seeking to break the deadlock, but Wigan Athletic maintained their defensive resilience, absorbing attacks while launching counter-threats through Callum McManaman's dynamic runs on the right flank. Early in the half, Carlos Tevez's cross was deflected wide for a corner by , but City failed to capitalize from the . In the 55th minute, substituted for to inject fresh energy into City's midfield. Wigan's defense held firm, with James McCarthy firing wide shortly after the restart, but the Latics grew in confidence as McManaman repeatedly exploited , leading to the Manchester City defender's first yellow card in the 60th minute for a foul on the winger. In the 69th minute, Mancini responded by bringing on for Tevez, aiming to bolster the attack, but was then booked in the 75th minute for fouling McManaman. Moments later, Shaun Maloney's cross clipped the crossbar, heightening the tension as sensed an opportunity. made their only change in the 81st minute, with Roberto Martinez introducing Ben Watson for to add height and energy late on. The game's turning point came three minutes later in the 84th minute when Zabaleta received a second yellow card—his first red in a major final—for cynically fouling McManaman again, reducing City to ten men and becoming only the third player dismissed in an . Gareth Barry picked up a yellow card in the 87th minute for fouling Maloney, as Wigan protected their lead while City pushed desperately forward. In the first minute of stoppage time, Wigan earned a corner, and Maloney delivered an inswinging that substitute Watson met with a precise near-post header past , securing a 1-0 lead. replaced Barry in the 90+3rd minute as Mancini threw everything forward, but Wigan goalkeeper earned a booking for time-wasting amid City's frantic assaults. The full-time whistle blew moments later, confirming Wigan's upset victory.

Match Details and Statistics

The 2013 FA Cup final concluded with Wigan Athletic securing a 1–0 victory over Manchester City, courtesy of Ben Watson's header in the 90+1st minute from a corner. of Wigan was named Man of the Match for his energetic and influential performance across the pitch. Key match statistics highlighted Manchester City's dominance in several areas despite the defeat:
StatisticManchester CityWigan Athletic
Possession64%36%
Total shots2310
Shots on target73
Corners123
Fouls1012
Yellow cards were issued to Manchester City's (twice, resulting in a red card in the 84th minute), , and , while Wigan's James McCarthy received one; no other major disciplinary actions occurred. This victory marked Wigan Athletic's first-ever appearance and win in an FA Cup final, their inaugural major trophy after 81 years as a professional club. Watson's stoppage-time goal was the first such decisive strike in an since Manchester United's and scored in added time against Newcastle United in 1999. The match attracted an attendance of 86,254 at .

Post-Match

Reactions

Ben Watson, who came off the bench to score the stoppage-time winner with a header from Shaun Maloney's corner, described the moment as "a dream come true," particularly poignant after he had broken his leg in November 2012 and missed much of the season. displayed visible frustration during a first-half sequence where burst past and appeared to be fouled by , a decision that went against City and highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities. Manchester City captain later described the final as the team's worst performance of the season, reflecting the depth of disappointment in their inability to capitalize on early dominance. Wigan manager Roberto Martínez lauded his side's unyielding spirit, stating that the triumph was "the kind of story... that could be turned into a movie" and emphasizing the collective belief that drove the underdogs to victory. In stark contrast, boss lambasted his players for their lack of fight, remarking that they "did not run a lot" and failed to match Wigan's intensity despite superior resources. was sacked by the club just two days later on 13 May 2013, amid mounting pressure from a trophyless campaign. The result sent shockwaves through fans and media, with widespread astonishment at Wigan's upset over the star-studded City side and effusive praise for the Latics' classic underdog narrative. UK newspapers captured the drama in headlines like "Wonder Ben Watson cracks City case," celebrating the substitute's heroic intervention. Wigan marked their historic win with an open-top bus parade through the town centre on 20 May 2013, attended by thousands of supporters despite the club's impending relegation. For Manchester City, the defeat intensified focus on their recent Premier League title race loss, having finished a distant second to Manchester United by 11 points.

Significance

The 2013 FA Cup final victory marked Wigan Athletic's first major trophy in the club's 81-year history, providing a historic milestone for a team from a of just 81,000 people that had only entered the Football League in 1978. The win qualified Wigan for the group stage, offering a significant financial boost estimated at around £2 million from entry fees and related revenues, which helped offset the challenges of relegation. However, the triumph was bittersweet, as Wigan became the first FA Cup-winning side in history to suffer relegation from the in the same season, dropping to the on 14 May 2013 after a 4–1 defeat to —just three days after the final. This unique occurrence underscored the volatility of lower-tier clubs in top-flight English football. The aftermath saw manager depart for Everton on 28 May 2013, leaving to rebuild without the architect of their success. For Manchester City, the defeat ended their season without a despite a star-studded squad, contributing to vulnerabilities exposed in their title defense across competitions; they had already exited the Champions League group stage and finished second in the . The loss prompted the sacking of manager on 13 May 2013, as the club sought a more holistic approach to operations, leading to Manuel Pellegrini's appointment on 14 June 2013. In the broader context of the FA Cup's legacy, Wigan's 1–0 upset over the heavily favored reinforced the competition's tradition of giant-killings, ranking as one of the greatest final shocks in its 148-year history. Long-term, the cup win stands as Wigan's pinnacle achievement, even as the club secured promotion back to the in 2016 via a 4–0 win over in League One. Wigan experienced further promotions and relegations, including winning League One in 2018 before administration and a 12-point deduction led to another drop in 2020; as of the 2025–26 season, they compete in League One. For , the transition under Pellegrini laid foundations for sustained dominance, culminating in a domestic treble in 2019 by winning the , , and , followed by another treble in 2022–23 (, , ) and multiple additional titles as of 2025.

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