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Lingard's dramatic goal secures United's record-tying 12th FA Cup

Shaun Botterill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Manchester United snatched victory away from Crystal Palace in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 win to secure its record-tying 12th FA Cup title on Saturday.

The two sides were forced to play an extra 30 minutes when Juan Mata cancelled out Jason Puncheon's thumping volley 10 minutes before the final whistle.

Jesse Lingard, however, prevented the match from going to penalties when he instinctively unleashed a volley of his own from the top of the box in the 110th minute to ensure the title heads north with United.

Related - Watch: Lingard's 110th-minute volley pushes United to FA Cup title

The 23-year-old, who was forced to wait until the 90th minute to make an appearance when he relieved Mata, revealed the degree of difficulty it took to execute the strike, especially since he was a late addition to the match.

"I seen it come across and it landed nicely for me, all I had to do was hit it sweet and luckily I did that," Lingard told the BBC afterwards. "As a sub you always have to be ready. Thankfully I was."

Victory was far from guaranteed during a second frame that lacked excitement and featured a nervy moment when Marcus Rashford was forced to leave with an apparent knee injury.

Palace added to United's frustrations when Puncheon injected life back into Wembley Stadium with a superb goal. After his failed cross saw Marouane Fellaini clear the ball away, Puncheon found himself on the end of a cross through the box where he calmly connected with the ball as it fell to his left boot.

Related - Watch: Pardew celebrates Crystal Palace goal with weird little dance

The joy was short-lived when Wayne Rooney's elusive run around the box, three minutes later, produced a cross to Fellaini, who chested the ball into Mata's path before the Spaniard's shot deflected off Palace defenders and past a helpless Wayne Hennessey.

United and Palace failed to produce a winner before heading to extra time, where the Red Devils went down a man before the end of the first 15-minute interval, as Chris Smalling picked up his second yellow of the match when he pulled Yannick Bolasie down.

Shortly after Smalling's sending off, Dwight Gayle almost sent Palace fans into a frenzy with the go-ahead goal but his toe-poke from the penalty area forced De Gea to make a kick save to maintain the 1-1 draw.

Instead it was United supporters who got to celebrate their side hoisting the FA Cup, a feat their club will cherish as it matches Arsenal's record for winning the domestic title.

The silverware also happened to be Van Gaal's first championship since taking over at United in the summer of 2014. Whether he'll be around next season to defend the trophy, however, remains to be seen as speculation suggests his days could be numbered at Old Trafford.

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"It is fantastic to win this title for the club, for the fans, and also for me because I now have won the cup in four countries, and not many managers have done that," the Dutch manager said.

"With 10 players, and we have played Tuesday evening also, but we have deserved it I think. It was a super goal eh?"

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