Manchester United fought off a brave but ultimately toothless challenge from the lions of Millwall to win the FA Cup final 3-0 and lift the trophy for a record 11th time.
A first-half header from Portuguese teenager Cristiano Ronaldo and two goals after the break from Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy -- the first a penalty -- gave United a deserved win on Saturday over a Millwall side attempting to become the first team from outside the top division to win the cup for 24 years.
But they were outclassed in their first FA Cup final appearance as United, oozing class and pedigree despite not having to play their best, dominated a largely disappointing one-sided match to win the cup for the first time since 1999.
Manchester United's Alex Ferguson, the first man to lead a team in five FA Cup final victories, said afterwards: "We're delighted, as you should be, to win the FA Cup.
"The first half wasn't easy, there were periods when we found it difficult to get a flow to our game but we got the break of scoring just before halftime which killed it for them -- and the second half was a convincing performance."
Millwall player-manager Dennis Wise, booked in the second half for showing his studs in a tackle on Paul Scholes said:
"Well it's disappointing to lose but we have come a long way as a club this season and we did well considering we were missing Daniele Dichio (suspended) and Kevin Muscat (injured).
BIG GULF
Millwall's consolation from an afternoon when the first division side were never able to bridge the gulf in class, is a place in next season's UEFA Cup as United, who came third in the premier league, are in the Champions League qualifying round.
Millwall were almost continually forced to defend and there was no way back for them after Ronaldo, the outstanding player on the field, headed United ahead after 44 minutes to become the fourth youngest scorer in FA Cup final history.
The match effectively ended as a contest after 65 minutes when Ryan Giggs was sent tumbling by Millwall's David Livermore with referee Jeff Winter, officiating for the last time before retiring, immediately pointing to the penalty spot.
Van Nistelrooy, who apart from a fourth minute header had been largely anonymous, lashed the ball into the roof of Andy Marshall's net as he took the first Cup final penalty since Eric Cantona scored two for United against Chelsea 10 years ago.
The Dutchman wrapped up the match 10 minutes from time when he converted a Giggs cross from a metre out to ensure that United, who have lost their premier league crown to Arsenal, ended a largely disappointing season with a trophy.
On a day when reality won over romanticism, there was still time for a nod to the old competition's long history.
YOUNGEST PLAYER
Wise, at 37 and playing in his fifth final, came off after 89 minutes to be replaced by substitute Curtis Weston, who at 17 years and 119 days old, became the youngest player to appear in the Cup final.
Weston broke a record set in 1879 by James Prinsep who played for Clapham Rovers aged 17 years and 245 days old.
United's Roy Keane, outstanding all over the pitch, became the first player in modern times to appear in six finals -- the second highest on record -- while Ferguson stretched his FA Cup winning record to five.
But the most touching note of all came as United lifted the cup. All the players donned shirts with the name Davis and the number 36 on their backs, as a mark of respect to young United reserve Jimmy Davis who was killed in a car crash last August.
UNITED DOMINANT
Although Millwall played well up to a point, United were always a yard too fast and a thought too quick for the south London side, nicknamed The Lions, who were roared on by their enthusiastic fans throughout the game.
But with Scholes winning his midfield battle against Wise, and Millwall striker Neil Harris isolated up front for long periods, United were largely able to dictate the pace.
Ronaldo had a mesmerising match on both wings, crossing superbly, pirouetting and displaying superb tricks as well as scoring just before halftime as he stole into the area in front of a stationary Wise to head past Marshall from six metres.
Scholes, Giggs and Van Nistelrooy, surprisingly voted Man of the Match over Ronaldo by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, the guest of honour, all went close for United in a one-sided second half. But although Millwall battled bravely against a vastly superior side, United in the end ran out comfortable winners.
