Manchester City win the FA Cup

Two goals from Ilkay Gündoğan this Saturday allowed Manchester City to stay in the Treble path and win the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester United, scored by Bruno Fernandes.

The expression “winning” has never been more relevant than it is today, at least in the FA Cup final, when the German midfielder scored the fastest goal in history in 13 seconds, to which the Portuguese player reacted 33 seconds from the penalty spot before Gundogan recorded result, 51.

Shortly after becoming a three-time English champion, City have won the FA Cup for the seventh time in an unprecedented final against rivals Manchester and could end the 2022/23 season with an unprecedented treble in the club’s history if they win. On Saturday, “Inter” in the Champions League final.

Manchester United, the only club to accomplish such a feat in 1999, were keen to prevent the side coached by Spaniard Pep Guardiola from continuing to dream of such an opportunity, but will now have to rely on the Italians to keep their rival from European glory. they have been chasing for many years.

If Bruno Fernandes scored a goal for the Red Devils and attempted the arduous mission of organizing his team’s football – a task that several times pitted him against compatriot Bernardo Silva, the protagonist of a less inspiring game – then Rubén Dias proved it. be irresistible in City’s defence, and Diogo Dalot did not leave the United bench.

The game literally kicked off with Gundogan’s first goal, scored from a well-placed shot from outside the area, 13 seconds after referee Paul Tierney’s first whistle after a long-range shot started by German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

The German midfielder scored the fastest goal in the decisive game of the tournament, surpassing by 12 seconds the previous record held by Louis Saha since 2009 when the French striker opened the scoring for Everton against Chelsea who won the game 2-1.

Shortly thereafter, the Citizens were back on the attack with a deflected header from Spanish midfielder Rodri, but an early goal calmed City’s anticipated attacking storm, perhaps saving rival City from further surprises, which also never came. really threatening.

As with the opposition, the Red Devils equalized without doing much, thanks to a penalty kick by Bruno Fernandez in the 33rd minute, punishing a hand touch by an improvident Jack Grealish in the penalty area of ​​the three-time English champion.

The draw at half-time was more of City conformity than United merit, but Gundogan quickly tried to give the City an advantage – even if it took a little longer than at the beginning of the match – with another shot from a distance. after the Belgian Kevin De Bruyne “discovered” him without a mark at the entrance to the opposite zone.

Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea prevented the City’s third goal, counter shots from De Bruyne and, shortly after, Norwegian Erling Haaland, who finished a rare game with white, although he was again close to scoring after a rebound, already close to the end.

Deprived of two important offensive assets, Brazilian Anthony and Frenchman Anthony Marital, both injured, Red Devils manager Dutchman Eric ten Hag launched Alejandro Garnacho and the Argentine striker tried to break his team’s apathy. and almost scored in the 72nd minute, but the ball went a little past the post.

The less dangerous United remained one goal away from a draw in the final, an opportunity that never left Wembley and came close to materializing in stoppage time when Ortega blocked it twice with the same move in which the ball was all hit the crossbar. City.