In a highly anticipated showdown between the two Manchester giants, Manchester City emerged victorious in the 2022-23 FA Cup final, defeating their arch-rivals Manchester United.
The match witnessed an extraordinary start, with Ilkay Gündoğan etching his name in the history books by scoring the fastest goal ever recorded in an FA Cup final.
Gündoğan found the back of the net just 13 seconds into the game with a stunning strike from outside the 18-yard box.
Manchester United got a lifeline in the 33rd minute when Bruno Fernandes successfully converted a penalty.
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The spot-kick was awarded after Jack Grealish handled the ball, prompting a VAR check to confirm the foul. Fernandes sucessfully sent Stefan Ortega the wrong way, leveling the scoreline.
The second half saw Manchester City continue their dominance, with Gündoğan once again stealing the spotlight.
In the 51st minute, the German midfielder completed his brace, capitalizing on a corner to give his team a well-deserved lead. Despite Manchester United’s relentless efforts to mount a comeback, they were unable to breach the City defense, with Alejandro Garnacho’s long-range attempt agonizingly close to finding the net.
This momentous FA Cup final marked the first-ever Manchester derby match to be played in a major final, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already fiercely contested fixture. Manchester City’s victory now positions them one step closer to achieving a historic treble, a feat previously accomplished only by Manchester United in the 1998-99 season.
The fate of City’s treble ambitions lies in the hands Inter Milan, who they will face on 10th June in the UEFA Champions League final.
