City complete double after Gundogan brace

Manchester City are close to clinching a treble after defeating rivals Manchester United at Wembley thanks to an Ilkay Gundogan brace.

Action: If Manchester United’s game plan had been to keep City at bay in the opening stages then it couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start when Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.

With just 16 seconds, the midfielder saw a ball drop for him and he fired a shot into the corner with David de Gea left flatfooted. Victor Lindelöf could also have done better in a challenge in the build-up but the strike from Gundogan was stunning.

City almost doubled their lead just a few minutes later when Rodri saw a header glance just wide from a Kevin De Bruyne whipped-in free-kick.

Manchester United did respond well to the early setback and drew level after what was a controversial penalty.

Referee Paul Tierney was directed by VAR To have a look at handball by Jack Grealish while challenging for the ball with Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Grealish’s hand did touch the ball with his arm up in the air but he was unlucky considering how close he was to it.

By the letter of the law, a penalty probably was the correct call – but it’s an instance of the handball rule being unfit for purpose.

There was no doubt when Bruno Fernandes stepped up. The United captain was calm as ever and sent Stefan Ortega the wrong way.

City had to wait a little longer into the second half to score but it came from the same source.

Six minutes into the second period the German was free on the outside of the box from a clever set-piece. This time his strike wasn’t quite as clean but it still managed to get the best of De Gea.

Erik ten Hag brought on Alejandro Garnacho as United searched for an equaliser with the teenager coming close in the 72nd minute with a shot that curled just past the post.

Manchester United almost found an equaliser deep into stoppage time when a United effort was flicked onto the top of the bar.

However, City were able to ride any late threat to complete a league and cup double with Internazionale the only thing preventing them from a successful treble next week.

Man of the Match: It has to be Ilkay Gundogan who won the game with two strikes from outside the box – one a piece of magic in the opening seconds and the other one a less clean effort that still manage to find a way in. The German was unlucky not to have then had a third when he had the ball in the back of the net but was found to be offside.

xG: Manchester City (1.22) 2-1 (1.89) Manchester Utd

22/23 FA CUP WINNERS!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YSGYCbSRZ1

— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 3, 2023