Gundogan scores brace as Man City beat Man United to win FA Cup in defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final, with the first of Ilkay Gundogan’s two goals coming in just a record 13 seconds, Manchester City’s quest to win a treble of major trophies continued.
The only thing standing between Pep Guardiola’s squad and footballing infamy in England right now is a first-ever Champions League championship, with City having already defended their Premier League crown.
The fastest goal in an FA Cup final was scored on Saturday by City captain Gundogan, clocked by British broadcaster BBC in 12.91 seconds. However, United midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty against the odds in the 33rd minute when Jack Grealish was found to have handled the ball.
Gundogan’s winning goal in the 51st minute, which he scored after Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from a free kick was met with a left-foot volley that bobbled between two United players and past goalkeeper David de Gea, may be one of his scrappiest efforts.
United needs a favor from Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10 in Istanbul if they are to maintain their proud distinction as the only team to win the league, FA Cup, and European Cup treble in 1999.
Gundogan scores brace as Man City beat Man United to win FA Cup
At England’s national stadium, Prince William and United legend David Beckham were among the spectators for the 142nd FA Cup final, the first between the two Manchester clubs.
The ball rebounded into the path of Gundogan after goalkeeper Stefan Ortega blasted a long punt toward Erling Haaland. Gundogan did not waste any time firing a dipping right-foot volley over de Gea, who was frozen in place.
It beat Louis Saha’s 25-second goal for Everton against Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup final for the FA Cup’s quickest goal ever, and City threatened to riot.
In the first five minutes, when United hardly touched the ball, Rodri and Jack Grealish both missed excellent opportunities. Before United received an unexpected gift, City’s Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne also came close.
When United right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka seemed to head a harmless diagonal ball over the area, referee Paul Tierney was told to look at a pitch side monitor for a potential handball by Grealish.
Tierney pointed to the spot, and Fernandes calmly moved up to send Ortega the wrong way with his penalty, much to the chagrin of the unfortunate Grealish and the joy of the hundreds of red-clad United supporters at the stadium’s east end.
As halftime drew near, it energized United, and Raphael Varane volleyed over from a corner.
It took City a little bit longer in the second half to reestablish their supremacy, and Gundogan once more showed his talent for scoring vital goals.
De Bruyne’s deflected pass this time allowed the German to be found, and his left-foot volley floated through a packed area and inside de Gea’s right-hand post despite not being nearly as accurate as his first effort.
As the clock wound down, City started to appear nervous. United’s substitute Alejandro Garnacho curled a shot agonizingly wide, and in stoppage time, a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball bouncing off City’s crossbar. Gundogan was denied a hat-trick by an offside flag.
