Ilkay Gundogan reinforced his status as a clutch player for Manchester City as he scored twice against Manchester United in the FA Cup final to secure the Premier League champions a 2-1 win and the Double.
The midfielder had scored twice to win the 2021/22 Premier League title on the final day and got a crucial double last month at Everton on City’s way to a third consecutive crown.
At a sunny Wembley, Gundogan got Man City off to a dream start in the first Manchester derby final, the captain scoring after only 12 seconds with a superb volley from outside the area, the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.
See: Fastest Premier League goals
United found a way back before half-time thanks to a penalty awarded after a VAR review had identified a handball by Jack Grealish. Bruno Fernandes sent Stefan Ortega in the City goal the wrong way to bring the scores level, the first goal conceded by Pep Guardiola’s team in this season’s competition.
Six minutes after half-time, Gundogan struck again to restore City’s lead. This time his left-foot volley from the edge of the area was not struck as cleanly as his first goal, but it was enough to beat an unsighted David De Gea. It was City’s 150th goal in all competitions this season.
United put pressure on City through the direct running of Marcus Rashford and substitute Alejandro Garnacho, and they hit the bar in stoppage time but ultimately were unable to find a second equaliser.
The hard-fought victory earned Man City a second Premier League and FA Cup Double and seventh FA Cup overall.
22/23 FA CUP WINNERS!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YSGYCbSRZ1
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 3, 2023
They edged one trophy closer to matching Man Utd’s historic Treble-winning team of 1998/99, which they can do by beating Internazionale Milano in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul on 10 June.
City will now also play Premier League runners-up Arsenal in the FA Community Shield ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League starting on 12 August.
