Wigan wins FA Cup for first time in 81-year history by beating Manchester City 1-0

LONDON – Wigan won the FA Cup for the first time in its 81-year history by beating big-spending Manchester City 1-0 on Saturday in one of the biggest final upsets the tournament has seen.

Ben Watson headed in the winner in the 90th minute at Wembley Stadium from Shaun Maloney’s corner.

“The boys were fantastic and they deserve it,” Watson told the BBC. “To come on and score the winner in the FA Cup final is a dream.”

The season, though, could still end on a low for Wigan, which is facing relegation from the Premier League.

The team, which is based near Manchester, was put together for less than $30 million, while City’s cost more than 10 times than amount.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s some achievement for everyone in the club,” Wigan midfielder James McCarthy said. “Now it’s down to the league. It’s a massive week for the club. We have to put on a massive show for the rest of the season.”

Wigan was led out onto the pitch by chairman Dave Whelan, who now has happier memories of Wembley after his playing career ended here when he broke his leg playing for Blackburn in the 1960 final.

For City, the loss could intensify the turmoil threatening to engulf the club as it wasted the last chance to end the season with a trophy.

The FA Cup enabled City to end its 35-year trophy drought two years ago, but despite going on to win the Premier League last season, the club has appeared to go backwards this campaign.

The Premier League trophy was conceded to Manchester United with four games to go, while City exited the Champions League in the group stage for the second successive season.

And City’s preparations were destabilized by a report, which the club has not denied, that Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini has been approached to replace Roberto Mancini as manager.

City fans made their feeling clear toward the club’s Abu Dhabi hierarchy, chanting in support of Mancini from the start and bellowing abusive about Pellegrini.