Global Courant
Manchester City’s mission to win a treble of major trophies remained on target after beating Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final, with the first of Ilkay Gundogan’s two goals coming after a record 13 seconds.
With City already retaining the Premier League, only a first-ever Champions League title now stands between Pep Guardiola’s team and English football’s immortality.
City captain Gundogan scored the fastest goal in an FA Cup final on Saturday – timed by British broadcaster BBC at 12.91 seconds – only ahead of United midfielder Bruno Fernandes who converted a 33rd-minute penalty against the lapse of the game after Jack Grealish was ordered to have played the ball.
If Gundogan’s opener was probably his best goal for City, then perhaps his winning goal in the 51st minute is one of his most striking as he met Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from a free-kick free kick with a left foot volley that landed between two United defenders rippled back and forth. goalkeeper David De Gea.
United wanted to protect their proud status as the only team to win the FA Cup-European Cup treble in 1999, but now need a favor from Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on June 10.
It was the 142nd FA Cup final and the first between the two Manchester clubs, with Prince William and United great David Beckham among those in attendance at England’s national stadium.
The smoke from the pre-match fireworks hadn’t even cleared as City took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Keeper Stefan Ortega launched a long kick towards Erling Haaland and as the ball bounced into Gundogan’s path he didn’t hesitate to send a right-foot down volley over a transfixed 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 riot.
Rodri Jack Grealish both failed to convert good chances in the first five minutes when United barely touched the ball, while Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne also came close to City before United got an unexpected gift.
When United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed a diagonal ball harmlessly across the area, it appeared harmless, but as play progressed referee Paul Tierney was instructed to check a fieldside monitor for a possible handball from Grealish.
To the dismay of the hapless Grealish and the delight of the thousands of red-clad United fans at the east end of the stadium, Tierney pointed to the spot and Fernandes calmly shuffled forward to send Ortega the wrong way with his penalty.
It energized United and Raphael Varane volleyed from a corner as half-time approached.
City needed a little more time in the second half to regain their superiority and again it was Gundogan who showed his talent to score vital goals.
This time the German was singled out by De Bruyne’s chipped pass and his left foot volley, not nearly as perfectly hit as his earlier effort, bounced his way through a crowded area and crept into De Gea’s right post.
Gundogan was denied a hat-trick by an offside flag and as the minutes passed City began to look tense with United substitute Alejandro Garnacho curling a shot agonizingly wide, while a stoppage-time goalkeeper ended with the ball bouncing off City’s crossbar .
City’s Bernardo Silva in action with Garnacho (Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters)
City’s class of 2023 became the 13th team in English football history to achieve a league-and-cup double, as the Abu Dhabi-controlled team lifted a 16th trophy since 2011, when City ended its 35-year title drought by winning the FA Cup win.
It was the 13th trophy in Guardiola’s seven years at the club and the 34th of his managerial career.
The latest trophies come in the same season the club was charged by the Premier League for more than 100 breaches of financial rules. City denies the allegations.
After the final whistle, City players ran from the half way line and jumped for joy in front of their fans waving blue and white flags.
At the center of the festivities was Gundogan, who could leave City after the Champions League final as his contract expires. He would leave as a great club.
“This group deserves it. I think we played very well, especially the second half was great,” Gundogan told the BBC, but he would not be interested in his future.
“I don’t need days like this to feel valued and special at this club. Nothing has been decided yet, so we’ll see what happens.”
