Manchester City advanced to the final of the FA Cup after recording a come from behind 2-1 win over Southampton in a dramatic semifinal clash at Wembley on Saturday.
The Cityzens had reached the final of the last three editions of the tournament and were hoping for another trip to Wembley, where they already secured victory in the EFL Cup by defeating Arsenal 2-0.
Manchester City had thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in the last eight stage, while Southampton had produced a shock result by edging the Gunners 2-1.
Pep Guardiola made several changes to the squad, handing rest to several of the regular starters, but it rarely affected their rhythm as they dominated the game from the start.
Tijjani Reijnders had a shot pushed onto the post as City asserted their dominance on the early stages, while Omar Marmoush was also denied by the Southampton goalkeeper
James Trafford was also called into action to deny Ross Stewart as the game began to open up, before Phil Foden fired over.
Manchester City wasted several other chances, before Southampton went ahead in the 79th minute through a rocket from Finn Azaz.
However, City were back in the game just three minutes later as Jeremy Doku fired a shot which took a heavy deflection off James Bree.
Then came a moment of brilliance three minutes from normal time as Nico Gonzalez fired home an unstoppable effort from outside the area to complete the comeback for Manchester City, who went ahead for the first time in the clash.
Savinho had another attempt cleared off the line and despite late pressure, Man City held on for a crucial 2-1 win to book their final spot.
They will now face the winner of the other semifinal between Chelsea and Leeds United, with the final scheduled to hold on May 16.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
