Raheem Sterling has scored a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final to become the first team to win the English treble of league championship and both domestic cups in spectacular style.
City, who retained the English Premier League title last week and won the League Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea in February, were in charge throughout and led 2-0 at halftime on Saturday with goals by David Silva and Sterling.
Kevin de Bruyne came off the bench to smash in the third after 61 minutes, Gabrielle Jesus slotted the fourth soon after and Sterling got his second nine minutes from time.
Sterling finished it off in the 87th minute, becoming the first player to score an FA Cup final hat-trick since Stan Mortensen in 1953, as City matched the record final victory set 116 years ago when Bury thumped Derby County 6-0.
"It was an incredible final for us and we have finished an incredible year," City manager Pep Guardiola said.
"To all the people at the club a big congratulations, especially the players because they are the reason why we have won these titles."
The one blip is their failure to again make even the semi-finals of the Champions League - something that will nag at manager Guardiola throughout the summer but ensure he and his team come back full of vigour in August.
Reuters
