2016 FA Cup Final

The **2016 FA Cup Final** was the 135th final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest football cup competition. The match was contested between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur. Swansea City were the first non-English side to reach the final since 1927 when Swansea's rivals Cardiff City beat Arsenal 2-1. It was refereed by Mark Clattenburg, from Consett, County Durham.

This was Swansea's first FA Cup final, whilst it was Tottenham's 9th appearance, their first since 1991 in which they lost to Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, the first and only time Clough won the FA Cup.

Swansea City defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4–2 to win Swansea their first FA Cup in their history and they become the first non-English team to win the FA Cup since 1927. The result was a surprise upset as Tottenham were the favourites to win the match.

The match was praised for being "pulsating". This match ended up being the last match Swansea's Garry Monk's who signed for Leeds United as manager, replacing him 'surprisingly' was former Man Utd boss Louie van Gaal.

The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by both BBC and BT Sport. BBC One provided the free-to-air coverage and BT Sport 1 was the pay-TV alternative.

## **Route to the final**

#### **Swansea City**

As a Premier League team, Swansea City started in the 3rd round. They were drawn to League 2's Oxford United, because Oxford is 2 division (or lower) than Swansea they get the home advantage. At Kassam Stadium, Swansea beat Oxford United 3–0 with new signing Andre Ayew scoring a brace and Jefferson Montero scoring the 3rd.

In the 4th round, they hosted Championship Blackburn Rovers winning again 3–0 with goals from Kyle Naughton and Marvin Emnes scoring a brace.

In the 5th round, they hosted Premier League outfit West Ham United coming from behind to win the match 3–1, goals came from Gylfi Sigurðsson, captain Ashley Gwillym and Jack Cork

In the quarterfinals they were drawn away to Manchester United in a repeat of the 2013–14 FA Cup tie (in which Swansea won 2–1) and much like the 2014 tie the match went Swansea's way with a 2–1 win. Sigurðsson and Ayew on the scoresheet

In the semi-final they played Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, and the game also finished 2–1 to Swansea, goals coming from Ayew and Pablo Hernandez to send Swansea to their 1st FA Cup final in their history

#### **Tottenham Hotspur**

As a Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur started in the 3rd round. Tottenham hosted fellow Premier League team Leicester City at White Hart Lane, the came finished 2–2 after 90 minutes sending the game into extra time, scored by Christian Eriksen and a late penalty from Harry Kane to keep Tottenham in the game. Son Heung-min and Nacer Chadli would score the goals in extra time.

In the 4th round Tottenham visited Layer Road home to Colchester United who they dispatched 4–1 with goals from Tom Carroll, Eric Dier and a brace from Chadli.

In the 5th round Tottenham hosted fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace with Kyle Walker scoring the game's only goal finishing 1–0

In the quarterfinals Tottenham visited Championship side Reading with Tottenham winning 2-0 goals coming from Dele Alli and Harry Kane

In the semifinals Tottenham played Watford at Villa Park in Birmingham, beating them 2–1 with Mousa Dembélé and a last minute winner from Harry Kane after Jan Vertonghen scored an own-goal to equalize for Watford

## **Match**

### **Summary**

Tottenham kicked off the 135th final and dominated possession in the opening stages. 8 minutes into the game, Tottenham win a corner, that was taken by Erik Lamela to find Harry Kane on the edge of the penalty area; Kane tried a volley that went into the path of Toby Alderweireld, who tapped it in from close range to give Tottenham Hotspur an early lead. Kane received a free kick and crossed it in to the penalty area. This caused controversy as Swansea believed he had taken the free kick several yards in front of where the foul was committed. Nevertheless, the ball was picked up on the far edge of the penalty area by Dele Alli, who got past Pablo Hernandez and crossed it in to the goalmouth, where it was headed towards goal by centre-back Toby Alderweireld. Swansea goalkeeper Michael Vorm parried it to Kyle Walker, who fired the ball into the far bottom corner of the goal. Tottenham almost scored a third goal moments later, Kane hit a shot but Swansea captain Ashley Gwillym blocked the shot which came off the post and he successfully cleared it. For the rest of the first half, Swansea had a few chanced but Tottenham maintained their lead into the half-time interval.

Swansea then came out with high tempo overwhelming Tottenham and within 5 minutes of the 2nd half (45th minute), Swansea got a goal back from striker André Ayew thanks to a pass from Sigurðsson to send Ayew away. 12 minutes later (52nd minute), Montero using his pace beat past Danny Rose and fired a low hard shot into the net. 9 minutes later (61 mins) Swansea won a free kick after a tackle from Spurs' left-back Danny Rose to Montero (earning Rose a yellow card) on the edge of the Swansea penalty area, which Gylfi Sigurðsson fired over the Tottenham wall and into the top corner of the goal as Swansea take the lead. On the 78th minute, Swansea doubled their lead with centre-back and captain Gwillym bundling a header from Sigurðsson over the line following a corner. Ref Mark Clattenburg blew the whistle at 90mins to give Swansea their first FA Cup in their history. Sigurðsson was awarded the Stan Mortensen Medal (man of the match award for FA Cup final) for his goal and 2 assists.

### **Details**

21 May 2016

15:00 BST