Ilkay Gundogan scored in both halves as Manchester City became FA Cup champions, beating Manchester United 2-1 in the 2023 FA Cup final. It was the first FA Cup final contested by the Manchester rivals and the game started dramatically as City scored straight after kick-off with the ball going back to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who played it long as Kevin De Bruyne knocked it to Gundogan, who unleashed a thunderbolt volley past David de Gea, marking the fastest goal in FA Cup final history. United were awarded a penalty following a VAR check for a handball from Jack Grealish and Bruno Fernandes slotted home to level it up after 33 minutes – marking the first goal City had conceded in the FA Cup this season.
But Gundogan restored the lead early in the second half and if City beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10 they will become the second English team in history to seal a treble, following United’s triumph in 1999. There were chances for Rodri, Erling Haaland and De Bruyne but it stayed 1-1 at the break. Gundogan restored the lead six minutes after the restart with another volley – this time not making clean contact – but the spinning ball evaded bodies in the box and flew beyond De Gea after he saw it late.
De Bruyne tested De Gea with a low shot on the hour mark and Marcus Rashford fired just over the bar before City fans thought Gundogan had scored the first FA Cup final hat-trick in 70 years – but he was offside as it was correctly ruled out. United substitute Alejandro Garnacho bended a shot just wide and made a positive impact after coming on – and Erik ten Hag’s side struck the crossbar in added time but it was not enough as City secured a 2-1 win to spark jubilant scenes at Wembley. Victor Lindelof was hit by an object launched at him by angry City fans during United’s goal celebrations. If City beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10 they will become the second English team in history to seal a treble, following United’s triumph in 1999.