LONDON: Manchester City are one game away from a historic treble after Ilkay Gundogan scored twice to beat Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s men completed a domestic double at Wembley and can become just the second side, after United in 1998/99, to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season should they beat Inter Milan to become European champions for the first time on June 10.
Gundogan scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history after just 12 seconds.
United levelled on 33 minutes through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty after Jack Grealish was harshly penalized for handball.
But the City captain, in what could be his final game for the club on English soil with his contract expiring at the end of the season, volleyed home the winner six minutes into the second-half.
“Everyone knows the FA Cup is the most beautiful domestic club competition in the world, so to win this trophy again and complete the double is amazing for us,” said Gundogan.
“We have a chance to do something special and win the treble and we do not want to let this opportunity pass us by.”
The first ever major final between the Manchester giants had the most explosive of starts.
Most of the 83,000 crowd were still taking their seats from the pre-match festivities when Victor Lindelof’s headed clearance sat up perfectly for Gundogan to volley home a stunning strike after just 12 seconds.
That appeared to set the tone for the Premier League champions.
Rodri headed into the side-netting moments later before Erling Haaland failed to get a clean connection on Gundogan’s enticing cross.
United were barely able to get across the halfway line in the first half hour, but got the break they needed to get back into the game.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s header back across the City box brushed the arm of Grealish and referee Paul Tierney was instructed to review the incident by VAR.
Despite City’s protestations, Tierney pointed to the spot and Fernandes coolly sent Stefan Ortega the wrong way.
The Portuguese’s celebrations in front of the City fans were met with a flurry of objects thrown from the stands, one of which struck Lindelof.
City boss Pep Guardiola was also showing his fury at the officiating as VAR did not intervene seven minutes before half-time when Kevin De Bruyne was wiped out by Fred inside the area and no penalty was awarded.
At the other end, United passed up a great chance to turn the game around before half-time when Raphael Varane fired high and wide at the back post from a corner.
Having fought so hard to gain a foothold, United were made to pay for another slow start in the second-half.
Gundogan was the goalscorer again as he fired home from De Bruyne’s free-kick.
But more questions will be asked of whether David De Gea remains the right man to be United’s number one goalkeeper after the 32-year-old Spaniard’s sluggish attempt to keep it out.
De Gea did at least make a big saves to keep United in the game from De Bruyne and Haaland, while Gundogan was denied a rare FA Cup final hat-trick by the offside flag.
United rallied in a tense finale as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho flashed efforts inches off target.
The ball came back off the City bar in a goalmouth scramble deep into stoppage time.
However, the Red Devils could not find the goal to deny Guardiola an 11th major trophy as City boss and protect the unique legacy of Alex Ferguson’s great side 24 years ago.
Only Inter in Istanbul in a week’s time now stand between City and matching the greatest achievement English club football has ever seen.
Ilkay Gundogan double secures FA Cup for Manchester City over United at Wembley
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Ilkay Gundogan double secures FA Cup for Manchester City over United at Wembley
- Pep Guardiola’s men completed a domestic double at Wembley
- Only Inter in Istanbul in a week’s time now stand between City and historic treble
MI Emirates overpower Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to move second in ILT20
- MI Emirates produced a strong finish with the bat coupled with disciplined bowling
- Brandon McMullen’s unbeaten 64 went in vain for the Knight Riders
ABU DHABI: MI Emirates produced a commanding all-round display to register a 35-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, successfully defending a total of 187/4 in the first match of the day.
A strong finish with the bat, followed by disciplined bowling through the middle overs, ensured MI Emirates tightened their grip on the contest and climbed to second place in the International League T20 points table.
Jonny Bairstow set the tone with a blistering start at the top of the order, smashing 38 off just 16 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes. Muhammad Waseem provided stability alongside him, rotating the strike effectively as MI Emirates raced to 53/1 at the end of the powerplay before Bairstow was trapped LBW by Ajay Kumar in the fifth over.
Waseem continued to anchor the innings, adding 50 runs with Tom Banton as the pair consolidated through the middle overs. Piyush Chawla broke the partnership in the 12th over, but Banton briefly accelerated before departing for 38 off 28 balls.
MI Emirates then surged late in the innings, with Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard launching a decisive assault at the death. The duo added 62 runs off just 32 balls, with Pooran finishing unbeaten on 40 from 24 deliveries and Pollard contributing 28 off 16, as 44 runs came from the final three overs to lift MI Emirates to an imposing total.
In response, the Knight Riders made a promising start despite losing Phil Salt early, bowled by Allah Ghazanfar in the second over. Brandon McMullen and Alex Hales took control of the chase, finding regular boundaries and guiding their side to 59/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The pair’s 82-run partnership threatened to swing the game in the Knight Riders’ favour, but Arab Gul struck at a crucial moment in the 10th over to remove Hales for 40, halting the momentum. Although the Knight Riders reached the halfway stage well placed, requiring 92 from the final 10 overs, the balance of the match soon shifted.
MI Emirates tightened the screws between overs 11 and 15, with Zahoor Khan delivering a decisive spell.
He dismissed Sherfane Rutherford and Liam Livingstone in the 13th over, while Gul accounted for Andre Russell as the Knight Riders lost wickets in quick succession and struggled to keep pace with the rising run rate.
McMullen battled on valiantly, bringing up a gritty half-century, but with boundaries drying up the required rate ballooned beyond reach. Zahoor returned to claim his third wicket by removing Sunil Narine, extinguishing any remaining hopes of a late revival. McMullen remained unbeaten on 64 from 49 balls, with Alishan Sharafu’s 15 not out offering brief consolation as the Knight Riders closed on 152/7.
Zahoor finished with impressive figures of three for 16 to earn player-of-the-match honors.
“I’m extremely pleased with my performance,” he said.
“The support from the MI Emirates management has been outstanding. Having spent a lot of time playing cricket in the UAE, I understand these conditions well, and it was satisfying to see that experience contribute to a match-winning performance,” he added.
Knight Riders captain Jason Holder admitted his side lost momentum at a critical stage.
“One hundred and eighty-seven was a competitive but chaseable total on this surface, and at the halfway stage we felt we were in a strong position, however losing wickets in clusters during the middle overs completely stalled our momentum,” he said.
