June 03, (THEWILL) – Ilkay Gundogan’s innate brilliance took centre stage in the all-Manchester FA Cup final as he swiftly propelled Pep Guardiola’s City into an early lead after just 12 seconds, leaving an indelible mark on the game.
The game had barely begun when Gundogan seized the opportunity presented by Victor Lindelof’s mistimed clearance. Showing remarkable composure and skill, the Manchester City skipper pounced on the loose ball, striking it with precision and power on the volley. The swiftness and accuracy of his shot left David de Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper, rooted to the spot, unable to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.
Gundogan’s sublime goal not only ignited jubilation among the City faithful but also set the stage for an enthralling FA Cup final encounter. His electrifying opener adds the City captain’s name to the annals of the fastest goals in FA Cup final history. He stands atop the ranks of notable fast scorers, such as Louis Saha’s lightning-fast strike for Everton against Chelsea in 2009, when the Toffees took the lead in a mere 25 seconds.
Before Saha, Aston Villa’s Bob Chatt previously held the prestigious record for the quickest goal in an FA Cup final, netting within 30 seconds against West Brom in 1895. Chatt outdid Chelsea’s Roberto Di Matteo, who had etched his name in FA Cup folklore with a thunderous long-range effort just 45 seconds into the final against Middlesbrough in 1997.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
