Photos from Cardiff

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice as Manchester United overcame valiant Millwall to win the FA Cup final.

Lions keeper Andy Marshall had denied Roy Keane before Cristiano Ronaldo nodded in Gary Neville's cross.

Dennis Wise headed off the line but Van Nistelrooy doubled United's lead from the penalty spot after David Livermore had brought down Ryan Giggs.

Van Nistelrooy then tapped home a driven Giggs cross to ensure United's disappointing season ended on a high.

Both Keane and Wise overcame their injury problems to make the final.

But Ronaldo, often pilloried by critics for over-playing this season, was the game's outstanding footballer.

Player ratings: Marks out of 10 for both sides

His trickery and incisive runs hurt Millwall time and again, with full-back Robbie Ryan bearing the brunt of the youngster's repertoire of skills.

Millwall settled quickly, enjoying plenty of early touches as United struggled to get the ball.

Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy produced some good moments for us, but Cristiano Ronaldo was particularly outstanding Gary Neville More Man Utd reaction Players remember Davis

But Sir Alex Ferguson's team quickly unveiled their attacking threat.

Ronaldo, wearing gold boots, crossed from the right after four minutes and Van Nistelrooy got across the Millwall defence only for his diving header to drift narrowly wide of Marshall's goal.

More inventive work from Ronaldo again exposed Millwall shortly afterwards.

The 19-year-old turned Ryan inside and out and crossed, but after the ball broke to Paul Scholes the England midfielder failed to make contact from six yards.

United continued to press and Marshall made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Keane, who thought he had opened the scoring with a swerving long-range strike.

KEY MOMENTS 23 mins: Marshall brilliantly denies Keane 44 mins: Ronaldo heads United in front 64 mins: Van Nistelrooy scores from the penalty spot 81 mins: Van Nistelrooy makes it three Action as it happened

Three minutes from the break Marshall only half saved a shot from Ronaldo and Darren Ward showed great positioning to hack the ball off the line.

But Ronaldo's superb first-half display was eventually rewarded with a goal.

United manoeuvred the ball crisply from left to right and Ronaldo attacked the far post to head Gary Neville's tempting cross past Marshall.

The goal was slightly unfortunate on Millwall, who had blunted United's attacking threat for large periods while enjoying moments of their own.

A cleverly taken short corner caught United flat in defence and Tim Howard had to punch the ball off Tim Cahill's head, while Paul Ifill broke down the right but had his shot blocked.

But their situation could have been even worse at the break after player-manager Wise repeatedly tangled with Paul Scholes.

We had a lot of youngsters out there and I told them they should be proud of themselves Dennis Wise More Millwall reaction

Referee Jeff Winter however opted for a cautionary word with both players and ensured Wise left the field without further harming his team's cause.

A driving run from Darren Fletcher in the opening minutes of the second half signalled United's determination to take the game beyond Millwall.

Marshall also had to save from Scholes as United looked for a killer second goal.

Silvestre almost scored from United's 10th corner of the match, but Wise brilliantly headed off the line and Ryan booted the ball clear.

Just the professional performance we needed at Manchester United From Bishop Blaize Have your say on 606

The decisive second goal did eventually come though in the 65th minute, and in emphatic style too.

Livermore fouled Giggs after a jinking run from the Welshman, and Van Nistelrooy smashed home the resulting penalty.

The prolific Dutchman was then in the right position to score United's third, sliding the ball home after more good work from Giggs.

With the game now beyond Millwall's reach, Ferguson made three substitutions - including goalkeeper Roy Carroll for Tim Howard - to give as many players as possible a slice of the glory.

Millwall also had time to make a significant substitution - Curtis Weston replacing Wise to become the youngest ever FA Cup finalist.

But while their fans will have enjoyed their day out, the match itself and celebrations afterwards certainly belonged to United as they wrapped up their 11th FA Cup triumph.

Man Utd: Howard (Carroll 84), Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea, Ronaldo (Solskjaer 84), Fletcher (Butt 84), Keane, Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy.
Subs Not Used: Phil Neville, Djemba-Djemba.

Millwall: Marshall, Ryan (Cogan 74), Ward, Lawrence, Elliott, Sweeney, Livermore, Wise (Weston 89), Ifill, Cahill, Harris (McCammon 75).
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Dunne.

Booked: Wise.

Attendance: 71,350