Man City stay on course for the treble after defeating Man United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium thanks to two goals from Ilkay Gundogan.
Man City, having already won the Premier League, will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final next Saturday in Istanbul, with the chance to repeat United’s accomplishment of 1999.
And Man City captain Gundogan was the game-winner once more, ensuring his place in history with the quickest goal in FA Cup final history, a magnificent volley after only 12 seconds, surpassing Louis Saha’s score for Everton after 25 seconds against Chelsea in 2009.
Man United equalised after 33 minutes when the video assistant referee ruled that Jack Grealish had handled, Bruno Fernandes coolly sending Stefan Ortega the wrong way from the spot.
It was Gundogan, as he does so often, who made the decisive contribution when he volleyed Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick past United keeper David de Gea six minutes after the break to give Man City the FA Cup for the seventh time.
Manchester City on the brink of greatness
Manchester City stand just 90 minutes away from the greatest season in their history.
With the league and FA Cup secured, next comes the chance to claim that elusive Champions League against Inter Milan.
Should they succeed, they would become only the second English club to complete the treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
United, who did it 24 years ago, did their best to halt City’s bid, but the league champions had too much power, and in Gundogan, they had a player who revels in the pressure of the big occasion.
His two goals, including that stunning early opener, emphasised what a figure of significance he has become, assuring him of a special place when the story of City’s glory years is written.
And in John Stones, City have a player of the highest class in his latest role defined by Guardiola, one that allows him to advance into midfield and utilise all his composure and quality.
Istanbul and Inter Milan are next on City’s agenda, and in their current relentless, irresistible mood, it would be more of a surprise if they did not complete the triple than if they did.
