In a thrilling FA Cup final clash at Wembley, Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan etched his name into football history by scoring the fastest goal ever witnessed in the prestigious tournament. Just 13 seconds into the match, Gundogan unleashed a powerful strike that left Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea with no chance of making a save. The goal propelled City to a dream start in their pursuit of a domestic double and added another milestone to their historic treble ambitions.
City, who entered the final as firm favorites, were undoubtedly buoyed by Gundogan’s lightning-quick goal. The strike surpassed the previous record set by Everton’s Louis Saha in 2009 when he found the back of the net in 25 seconds against Chelsea. The early breakthrough injected City with confidence, setting the tone for a scintillating encounter under the London sunshine.
The opening goal originated from a long ball played by City’s second-choice goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, which was skillfully headed on and found its way to Gundogan at the edge of the box. The German midfielder exhibited his clinical finishing ability, dispatching a fierce shot past De Gea to send the City faithful into delirium.
Saturday’s final marked a clash between two formidable Manchester rivals, and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag opted to start Fred in the absence of the injured Anthony Martial. Despite missing their key forward, United aimed to spoil City’s dreams of completing a domestic double. The Red Devils were also hoping to replicate their historic achievement from the 1998/99 season when they secured the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
For Pep Guardiola’s City side, victory in the FA Cup final was crucial not only to secure a domestic double but also to bolster their confidence ahead of the highly anticipated Champions League final against Inter Milan. City had rested several key players in their final Premier League matches, ensuring they arrived at Wembley with a full-strength squad that featured the returning trio of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland.
Guardiola’s decision to field Ortega instead of first-choice goalkeeper Ederson was a testament to his commitment to consistency in cup competitions. Ortega had started in every previous round of the FA Cup, and Guardiola stayed true to his word by giving the German shot-stopper the nod.
With City emerging as the victors of the FA Cup final, they now had their sights firmly set on the upcoming Champions League final against Inter Milan. The prospect of securing a historic treble loomed large for Guardiola’s men, who sought to etch their name in the annals of football history.
For Manchester United, the season had already seen positive developments under the guidance of Erik ten Hag. They ended their six-year trophy drought by clinching the League Cup in February and secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing a return to the Champions League next season.
As the curtain fell on a pulsating FA Cup final, Manchester City celebrated their record-breaking goal from Gundogan and turned their attention to the impending clash with Inter Milan. The stage was set for an enthralling Champions League final as both sides aimed to etch their names in the pantheon of footballing legends.
