Manchester City have moved to within one victory of completing a momentous treble, as they deservedly beat archrivals Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final, thanks to Ilkay Gundogan's record-breaking double.
City captain Gundogan scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, with a stunning volley after 12 seconds, and struck what proved to be the winner, seven minutes after halftime.
Gundogan, 32 - who is expected to leave City in the summer, after seven trophy-laden years - became the oldest player to score an FA Cup final brace, since Nat Lofthouse for Bolton Wanderers in 1958, also against United.
Seeking to win both domestic cups in the same season for the first time in their history and wreck City's hopes of emulating their own historic 1999 treble, United levelled with a 33rd-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty.
Pep Guardiola's side resisted late United pressure to win the trophy for a seventh time. It is the 13th time the English league and FA Cup double has been achieved, but City now want more.
They travel to Istanbul to face Inter Milan, seeking the European crown for the first time and hoping to equal United's 1998/99 Premier League/FA Cup/Champions League sweep, under Alex Ferguson.
"Now we can talk about the treble," said Guardiola, who has won 11 trophies, since arriving at City in 2016.
"Of course, we still have to win the Champions League. We performed so well for our city and our fans.
"It was so important for us today. The FA Cup is so nice."
United can console themselves with a League Cup trophy in manager Erik Ten Hag's encouraging first season and will hope Inter can stop City next Saturday.
Reuters
