Everton vs. Manchester United: Winners and Losers from FA Cup

Everton vs. Manchester United saw an incident-packed FA Cup final end 2-1 to the Red Devils thanks to a late Anthony Martial goal. 

United took a deserved lead into the half-time break thanks to Marouane Fellaini, who latched onto a cross from Martial.

Everton looked revived by half-time, taking the game to United and earning a penalty after Timothy Fosu-Mensah brought down Ross Barkley. David De Gea stopped Romelu Lukaku from taking advantage, saving a penalty against Everton as he had done at Old Trafford last season.

However, in the 20 minutes between that and Chris Smalling's own-goal equaliser, the Toffees held onto the ascendancy, mustering seven shots on De Gea's goal in that period. When their breakthrough came, it was very much with the run of play. 

United had looked cowed by Everton's attacking intent, but the goal sparked a response. It had seemed as if they had left their assault too late, but in the 92nd minute, substitute Ander Herrera poked the ball through to Martial and the France international's neat finish sparked delirium in the United end. 

Let's take a look at some of the winners and losers from this dramatic tie, starting with the game's clear man of the match.

Winner: Anthony Martial

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Martial celebrates his winner.

Outside Wembley Stadium after the game, the air was filled with a chant in Martial's honour. "Tony Martial came from France; the English press said he had no chance. Fifty million down the drain, as Tony Martial scores again" is a refrain United fans will long associate with this game. 

He had put in an excellent display even without his winner, providing the assist for Fellaini, and generally being a thorn in Everton's side. He completed five of his seven attempted dribbles, made four key passes and thoroughly deserved his goal. 

The fact it came so late and prompted such wild, prolonged celebrations will embed it—and him—into United folklore for a long time to come.

Loser: Roberto Martinez

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The game ended with a hammer blow for Martinez.

Sean Bradbury of the Liverpool Echo collated some of the Everton fan response to Roberto Martinez after the game. The theme is distinct, and summed up by Andy Rotheram who says, "He has to go. Nice fella, just not good enough for Everton." 

In truth, much of this is about the reaction to Martinez's season as a whole, rather than this game in particular. The Echo's Phil Kirkbride praised him for his contribution to Everton's improved second-half display. He wrote: 

"

Whatever the manager said to his players at half-time here, whatever words of wisdom he used and however he did it, worked because it rallied them into a producing a truly stirring performance that not only got them back level in the game but put them in place to go on and win.

Like the old-time cornerman who could see his fighter on the wane, he said what needed to be said.

But at the end of it all, after such a gutsy display, Everton just didn't have it in them to see it through.

"

In spite of the "gutsy display," given how deep the antipathy towards his position seems to run with Everton's fans, anything other than a win at Wembley means a substantial personal loss for Martinez.

Winner: Wayne Rooney

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Rooney celebrates in front of United's support after the game.

A captain's performance from United's No. 10 sees Rooney afforded well-deserved "winner" status here.

Playing in midfield alongside Fellaini ahead of Michael Carrick, Rooney put in a true box-to-box display. He took four shots, two of which were blocked, another was saved and the fourth was off-target. He made effective use of possession, finding a United player with 93 per cent of his attempted passes, two of which were key. 

He did not neglect his defensive duties either, making two tackles and an interception. The numbers, though illustrative of a decent performance, do not quite tell the real story. Rooney, simply put, looked on it at Wembley. He played with purpose and drive, keen to look for a ball up to his strikers when needed, happy to take a more measured approach when that was required.

He was hardly up against superstar opposition, but it was one of the better midfield performances of his career.

Loser: Timothy Fosu-Mensah

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Fosu-Mensah concedes a penalty.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah had a bad day in the office. His concession of a penalty was the low point, but that in itself is not what earned him a place here. Indeed, the penalty was far from solely his fault—it followed a counter-attack in which the 18-year-old's more senior colleagues should have done much better. 

He looked nervous from the off, misplacing a couple of early passes and creating uncertainty among United's back four. It was a day to forget, and he will have many better days to come.

Van Gaal's decision to substitute him was a sensible one under the circumstances, though some confidence-building work should follow in the weeks ahead.

Winner: David De Gea

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De Gea commiserates with Lukaku whose penalty he saved.

A popular refrain among United fans this season has been "imagine where we would be without De Gea." That the transfer system's vagaries prevented his move to Real Madrid last summer has been an enormous boon for the Red Devils. 

He showed his value here. There was the penalty, of course, but that was one of seven saves—a couple of which certainly tested the Spanish stopper. 

Of the penalty, Rooney told MUTV (h/t the club's website) "It was a great penalty save. The pace with which the ball was hit shows he has a strong arm on him, and Everton had momentum behind them at that time. He’s the main reason why we’ve got to this final."

High praise from his captain...and well-deserved.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.