FA Cup – Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: 5 Talking Points

#3 Jesse Lingard proves himself to be a winner

The true mettle and character of a player are truly tested on occasions such as a visit to Wembley. The players on the Manchester United starting line-up have had their days, with many a visit to the esteemed English stadium in search of silverware. However, on this front, it was a truly special moment for a player like Jesse Lingard.

Having been finally thrust into the first team plans with United making use of his services more regularly since October last year, Lingard was brought on to change things as they stood deadlocked after a Juan Mata strike leveled a Jason Puncheon rocket. It took him a while in the game to do what he was asked but he did it as a hero would on the occasion.

With the score tied at 1-1, Chris Smalling got himself sent off on the brink of half-time in the extra time. It was a special moment when Manchester United managed to weave an attack and the ball was crossed in by Antonio Valencia as it came off a Palace head into the path of Lingard.

At this moment, he was tussling with a Palace defender but in exactly a split second he put his foot to the ball with sublime technique and half-volleyed the ball into the net like a rocket and Wayne Hennessey stood there, stunned. A Hero was born on the night, a special one as it turned out for academy graduate, Jesse Lingard.