FA Cup Final, Highlights: Gundogan brace helps treble-chasing Man City to win over Manchester United

It is as deserving as it gets. City was nowhere near its best. But it didn’t have to as it outclassed a fighting Manchester United to secure its seventh FA Cup title.

Skipper Ilkay Gundogan lead from the front with a memorable brace, with his first coming in the 13th second of the game, the fastest goal in FA Cup finals.

United did give it its all, but it wasn’t enough against a superior side, which is on the verge of completing a historic treble.

Rodri booked for a handball, which prevents a United counter attack.

Four minutes added on. Luke Shaw pumps a cross in and Ortega has to scramble to prevent it from going in. United has a corner. Fernandes’ delivery is too high and United misses out on a chance to trouble the City keeper again. Walker seems to be injured and is taken off for Laporte. Haaland gets the ball and drives towards the corner flag and wins a corner. City plays it out. It is a 2-1 win for Guardiola’s side and they are one win away from a historic treble.

Desperation time for United. There is an urgency in passing, but they are running out of ideas in the final third. Bruno swings in a cross with his left foot. But it is too high for any of the United attackers to head it.

Haaland gets the ball and dribbles his way into United box. Varane gets there in time and tries to clear it away. It goes clattering off Haaland’s shin and almost goes into the net. Another narrow escape for United.

Fred brings Grealish down to prevent a counter attack and gets a yellow card for it. United deals the ensuing freekick, but it unable to string together an attack.

Ortega is the next to be booked, for time wasting.

United amps up the pressure. Guardiola brings in Foden for KDB. United too makes a change. Weghorst comes in for Sancho as it tries to change up its strategy.

Garnacho gets time and space to get a shot on goal. He tries to curl it with his right foot. Narrowly misses the upright. United keeps on the charge. Wins a corner, pushing City into its box.

United pressing higher up the field in hopes of forcing an error. But it is City who break through and have a shot at goal. Haaland’s shot from inside the box is saved by De Gea. Gundogan tucks in the rebound, but is called offside. United Survive!!

United has a chance to hit on the counter. Garnacho gets the ball and turns towards the goal. He holds on to the ball for far too long and gives it away.

Bruno and Rashford links up well outside the box and the latter takes the shot. It whistles narrowly wide of the post.

Garnacho comes in for Eriksen. United gets hold of the ball for a considerable while, but can’t progress the ball into City territory. Fred defends well against KDB and brings the ball out of danger.

Gundogan is set free on the left flank. He goes for a first-time cross, which is too high for Haaland and Silva. United cues up a change, with Garnacho kitting up on the sideline. KDB gets a chance to shoot from inside the box, but it is straight at De Gea, who boots it away.

City comes charging again. It wins a corner after a spell of continued pressure. Varane heads the corner away, but City regains the ball and continues on the attack. City dominating this particular phase of play.

Ortega misplaces a pass and United has a chance to capitalise on the mistake. Bruno ponders too long on the ball and that chance goes wasted.

KDB wins a freekick down the right flank. He takes the freekick himself, lifts it into the path of Gundogan, who hits it first time with his left-foot. The shot squirms through bodies and finds its way past De Gea. CITY RETAKE THE LEAD!!!

City plays out from the back, leaving a trail of United players, who were attempting to press. United defence regroups in time to prevent any danger.

United kicks off the second half and it starts on the front foot by moving the ball up into City territory.

City is keeping the ball with ease, with United’s press having no effect on them. Except for the early goal, it hasn’t caused much serous trouble for De Gea. United though has grown into the game, with its passing getting much crisper. A lot more to come in the second half, particularly for City, considering its mighty bench strength.

Couple of aggressive challenges from City in the midfield to break United’s momentum. United’s linkup play had improved over time. Now it is able to bypass the City press with ease.

First corner of the day and it goes to City. KDB plays it short, before swinging in a sharp cross. Casemiro was there to nick it away in the right time.

Guardiola clearly unhappy with that penalty call. But it doesn’t matter now.

City brings the ball forward again. KDB with the ball at the edge of the box. He attempts a chipped cross, but overhits it. Flies over the crossbar. City pushing United back into its territory.

United strings together another attack. Bruno lofts a ball into the path of Wan-Bisakka, who tries to head it in. Grealish tries to block it. United appeals for a hand ball. The game flows and referee eventually refers to VAR. It is a penalty for United!!

Bruno with the penalty. He sends Ortega the other way and slots it in. It is 1-1.

KDB gets the ball at the right-hand corner of the ball. He shuffles inside and launches it with his left foot. Narrowly misses the upright.

United keeper De Gea is on the ground. The physio is taking a look at him. That gives the players of both sides to have a drinks break. De Gea is soon back on his feet and the game resumes.

United tries to play over the top again. Wan-Bisakka with the long ball this time. Rashford gives it a chase, but is unable to get to the ball in time. United running out of options to penetrate City box.

Bruno plays an lofted through ball for Sancho to chase, only for Kyle Walker to shield him out of danger.

Fred loses the ball in the midfield and City breakthrough on a counter. But they opt to recycle possession as United continue to chase the ball.

United pushing more men forward, attempting to stifle City’s build-up play. But Guardiola’s sdie have no issues in playing through the press as United struggles to get a grip on the game.

Akanji and Casemiro collide while going after a stray ball. United wins the fouls, but it is Akanji who has come worst off the challenge. He takes his time to get back on his back.

United finally gets to move the ball upfiield. They shuffle the ball from one wing to another. A ball is floated into the box, but Bruno commits a foul while attempting to get to the ball.

City keeps coming in again and again. United hasn’t had one decent spell on the ball, with the Red Devils unable to cope up with the pressure City is imparting one them, when they get hold of the posession.

United is shell-shocked. The passes are not sticking for them, while the movement is iffy.

City almost has another one. KDB angles a freekick from the right Rodri’s header brushes the sidenetting and goes out.

GUNDOGAN SCORES!!!

City needed only 14 seconds to open the scoring. A loose ball pops into the way of Gundogan, who laces it on the volley. De Gea stands not chance as the ball crashes into the net.

Both sides in their home colours at the sunshine-drenched Wembley. Skippers for the day Bruno and Gundogan exchange the lineups.

City with the kick-off and we are off.

No major tactical switcheroo from City (Surprise, Surprise!!)

Haaland and KDB will look to continue their telepathic connection, while the impressive Grealish and perpetually-under-the-radar Bernardo Silva will man the wings.

Gundogan will be the conduit in the midfield and will also be a credible goal threat with his late runs into the box.

Stones will be again deployed in an advanced defensive role, almost in line Rodri, while Walker, Dias and Akanji will form the last line of defence.

Ortega gets the nod ahead of usual first-choice Ederson as Guardiola entrusts faith on the 30-year-old German,

Anthony’s injury has forced Ten Hag to push Bruno to the right wing -- a position where the Portuguese was deployed to success earlier this season -- and bring in the energetic Fred into the midfield.

Fred, in all likelihood, will be deputised to negate the effect City’s puppet-master Kevin De Bruyne.

October - Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United

January - Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City

The last time the Manchester teams faced each other in the FA Cup semis, was the 2011 semifinals. Yaya Toure scored the only goal of the match to guide Man City to its first FA Cup final in 30 years.

Toure went on to score in the final as well as Man City clinched the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Stoke City.

United: De Gea; Wan Bisakka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fred, Bruno; Sancho, Rashford

City: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Grealish, Haaland, Silva

With the unique nature of a first-ever all-Manchester final, the FA Cup has broken a tradition since its inauguration in 1872 by partially engraving the trophy before Saturday’s clash.

The FA has asked Thomas Lyte, the competition’s official trophy and silverware provider, to already inscribe the name ‘ ‘Manchester’ before the final with either ‘City’ or ‘United’ added at the end of the game.

The engraving took place in one of the Wembley dressing rooms earlier this week.

United is a side in transition in terms of style and personnel. Ten Hag has been moulding the team along his principles of ball progression but is often held back by the ball-playing capability of his players, particularly goalkeeper David de Gea.

City, though, is a team well-rooted in Guardiola’s vision of possession football, with the side enjoying 64.7% of the ball in the league, a figure unmatched by any side in Europe’s top-five leagues, which is miles ahead of United’s number - 53.7%.

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United: De Gea; Wan Bisakka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen, Bruno; Sancho, Garnacho, Rashford

City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Silva

When is the FA Cup Final scheduled?

The Manchester Derby FA Cup final will kick off at 7:30 PM IST.

How to watch the FA Cup Final?

The FA Cup final will be televised live on Sony Sports Network and will be streamed live on SonyLIV in India

Erik ten Hag wants to bring the glory days back to Manchester United but the Premier League club has a long way to go, the Dutch coach said ahead of its FA Cup final clash against local rivals Manchester City.

United, 12-time FA Cup winner, defeated Brighton & Hove Albion in the semifinals on penalties and will be looking to lift its second trophy of the season after winning the League Cup in February.

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