Ilkay Gundogan showcased his reputation as a dependable player for Manchester City by scoring two crucial goals against Manchester United in the FA Cup final, securing a 2-1 victory for the Premier League champions and completing the double for the season.
Gundogan, who had previously scored twice to secure the Premier League title in the 2021/22 season finale and contributed with a vital brace against Everton last month, continued his impressive form at a sunny Wembley. In the first-ever Manchester derby final, the midfielder made an explosive start, finding the net after only 12 seconds with a magnificent volley from outside the penalty area. This lightning-fast goal became the fastest in the history of the FA Cup final.
Manchester United managed to equalize before halftime through a penalty awarded after a VAR review detected a handball by Jack Grealish. Bruno Fernandes calmly converted the spot-kick, ending City’s streak of not conceding a goal in this season’s FA Cup competition.
Six minutes into the second half, Gundogan struck again to restore Manchester City’s lead. Although his left-footed volley from the edge of the area wasn’t as clean as his first goal, it proved enough to beat an obstructed David De Gea. This goal marked City’s 150th goal across all competitions this season.
Manchester United applied pressure through the direct running of Marcus Rashford and substitute Alejandro Garnacho, coming close to scoring in stoppage time as their shot hit the crossbar. However, they were unable to find an equalizer.
The hard-fought victory secured Manchester City their second Premier League and FA Cup double, adding to their previous six FA Cup titles. This achievement further solidifies their dominance in English football.
