2017/18 FA Cup Final

Aardvark Abacus 4
Monreal 51
Herrera 62
Lacazette 85, 89

v

The Fabulous Artisans 0

(3 cancelled cleans)

At Wembley. Attendance 90,000

Teams

Aardvarks: Cech, Trippier, Emerson, Kompany, Monreal; Herrera, Son, Matic, van La Parra; Ramirez, Tosun Subs: Pickford; Dunk; Davis; Lacazette

Artisans: Begovic; Femenia, Baines, Walker, Tuanzebe; Lingard, Sobhi, Eriksen, Shelvey, Hernandez, Firmino Subs: Fabianski; van Aanholt; Wijnaldum; Benteke

Report

A week after these teams met in the league (the Artisans coming out on top 2-1) there was a full house at Wembley for the ‘re-match’. It was a subdued first half though - Cenk Tosun looked lively for the Aardvarks early on but the teams soon cancelled each other out and went into half-time goalless.

That all changed after the break. It took just six minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Nacho Monreal escaped his marker at a corner to volley Ady’s team ahead. Ander Herrera was the unlikely scorer of the goal that doubled the lead on 62 minutes. Herrera strode on to a crossfield pass to shoot through a defender’s legs and under the despairing dive of the Artisans keeper for his first goal since week 26 last season.

Now the game was stretched and the Artisans were always going to be vulnerable as they pushed to get back on terms. Five minutes from time Alexandre Lacazette found himself unmarked in the Artisans area and had time to fire in at the near post with the aid of a deflection. The game was up now and four minutes later Lacazette stepped away from a defender and stroked in from close range..

So it’s disappointment for Ben in his first FA Cup Final, it’s another trophy for Ady has he narrows the gap to becoming the most decorated WSFFL manager of all-time.

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How they got there

Semi-finals

Aardvark Abacus 3v 0 Claymore Athletic FC (after 1-1 draw)
The Fabulous Artisans 5 v 1 San Dimas High School (after 2-2 draw)

Quarter-finals

Aardvark Abacus 2 v 1 Athletico Phoenix
Markian United 2 v 4 Claymore Athletic FC
San Dimas High School 1 v 0 Mega Buck Bandits
Trusted By Millions 1 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans (after 2-2 draw)

1st Round

Aardvark Abacus 5 v 1 YTFIB
Cheese Makers 2 v 3 Athletico Phoenix
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 0 v 3 Mega Buck Bandits (after 0-0 draw)
Real Muppets 0 v 3 San Dimas High School
The Fabulous Artisans 3 v 2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
The Wateringhole Society 0 v 4 Markian United
Trusted By Millions 5 v 0 The Cow-Faced Juniors (after 1-1 draw)
Wheel Madrid 1 v 3 Claymore Athletic FC