Manchester City moved to within one victory of completing a momentous treble as they beat Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final thanks to Ilkay Gundogan’s double on Saturday.
City captain Gundogan entered the record books by scoring the fastest goal in FA Cup final history as he crashed home a stunning volley 12 seconds after kick-off.
United, seeking to win both domestic cups in the same season for the first time and at the same time wreck City’s hopes of emulating their own historic 1999 treble, levelled against the run of play with a 33rd-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty.
But Gundogan restored City’s lead with another volley seven minutes after the interval and Pep Guardiola’s side resisted some late pressure to win the trophy for a seventh time. The Premier League champions face Inter Milan in next Saturday’s Champions League final when victory will see them match United’s treble in the 1998-1999 season.
For the first time in 190 meetings, the clubs were clashing for silverware, and not just bragging rights, and Wembley was decked in red and sky blue. Smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics had not even cleared when City took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Keeper Stefan Ortega launched a long punt towards Erling Haaland and as the ball bounced into the path of Gundogan, he did not hesitate to send a dipping right-foot volley arcing over a transfixed David De Gea.
It eclipsed the previous fastest FA Cup final goal scored by Louis Saha after 25 seconds for Everton against Chelsea in 2009 and City threatened to run riot.
Rodri and Jack Grealish both failed to convert good chances in the opening five minutes in which United barely touched the ball while Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne also went close for City before United were handed an unexpected gift.
When United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed a ball harmlessly across the area it appeared innocuous but, as play continued, referee Paul Tierney was instructed to check a pitch side monitor for a possible handball by Grealish.
To the unlucky Grealish’s dismay, and the delight of the thousands of red-clad United fans, Tierney pointed to the spot and Fernandes calmly shuffled up to send Ortega the wrong way with his penalty.
