Gundogan’s Double Fires City To FA Cup Win Over United 

Manchester City edge closer to completing a treble trophy haul this season, after defeating fierce rivals Manchester United 2-1 to secure the 2023 FA Cup trophy.

The PL Champions made a statement opening to the encounter, courtesy of Ikay Gundogan’s volley goal inside the first minute of the game. And as if that wasn’t enough, City’s pressure on their neighbours didn’t reduce, as Pep Guardiola’s men kept on knocking for an early second goal.

It was Rodri however who came the closest to doubling his side’s tally, after directing Kevin De Bruyne’s freekick to the side netting.

Despite United’s complete lack of attacking desire, they were gifted a route back into the game against the run of play, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s header brushed the fingers of Jack Grealish, resulting in a penalty that Bruno Fernandes duly converted to restore parity into the game.

Nonetheless, the leveller was dissolved in the 51st minute via Gundogan once again, with the German international sending a powerful shot into De Gea’s net.

Although De Gea could be blamed for City’s second goal, United were fortunate that their goalkeeper denied a powerful strike from De Bruyne, preventing the game from slipping out of their reach moments later. Erik Ten Hag’s men made strong efforts to equalize later on, with substitute Alejandro Garnacho coming extremely close to finding the back of the net, only to curl his shot wide of the post.

Manchester City held onto the lead to secure their first FA Cup title since 2019, as their quest to emulate United’s treble of 1999 becomes increasingly possible, and will be decided when they face Inter Milan in Istanbul for the Champions League Final in seven days.