Manchester City survived a major scare to beat Southampton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday, with a stunning late strike from Nico Gonzalez sealing a fourth consecutive trip to the final. Ireland international Finn Azaz had given the Championship side a shock 79th-minute lead with a brilliant curler, but Jeremy Doku equalised three minutes later with a deflected effort before Gonzalez fired home the winner.
Second-string City come through Saints test
Pep Guardiola fielded a rotated side, and the first half was a lifeless affair that failed to ignite the occasion. City dominated possession but created little, with Tijjani Reijnders hitting the post from an offside position. The game changed dramatically late on, as Southampton stunned the favourites through Azaz’s long-range strike — a moment of individual brilliance that threatened to derail City’s treble hopes.
But Doku, introduced as a substitute, provided the spark. Cutting in from the left, his shot took a crucial deflection off James Bree to beat James Trafford, who had earlier been helpless against Azaz’s effort. The Saints responded immediately, with Kuryu Matsuki firing a rocket that Trafford superbly tipped over the bar. Moments later, Gonzalez stepped up and unleashed a powerful, unstoppable strike to send City into the final.
Defensive resilience and midfield effort
John Stones, potentially playing his last Wembley game for City, delivered a composed and solid performance after a lengthy injury lay-off. Nathan Ake also stood firm in what could be his final appearance for the club. Matheus Nunes battled through an injury scare to complete his shift, while Rayan Ait-Nouri struggled to influence the game and was replaced early in the second half.
Goalkeeping and backline ratings
James Trafford (7/10) had little to do early but made a vital save to deny Matsuki after the equaliser. Nunes (6/10) was solid, while Stones (7/10) and Ake (6/10) showed resilience. Ait-Nouri (5/10) failed to get forward consistently. In midfield, Gonzalez (7/10) grew into the game before his match-winning strike, while Reijnders (6/10) and Kovacic (6/10) offered moments but didn’t seize their chances. Phil Foden (5/10) disappointed in his first start since March, offering little before being substituted. Omar Marmoush (6/10) had flashes of promise but again struggled at Wembley, while Rayan Cherki (6/10) was City’s main threat before Doku’s introduction — though he lost possession leading directly to Southampton’s goal.