Pep Guardiola will return to Wembley for the fourth straight year as Manchester City fought back to defeat Southampton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final.
Nico Gonzalez scored the decisive winner as the Premier League leaders came from behind to book their spot in the final.
Southampton, a Championship side, arrived at Wembley full of confidence. They had already knocked out Premier League opponents Fulham and Arsenal earlier in the competition and reached the last four for the first time since their 2023/24 playoff final. Yet Manchester City, who made eight changes, dominated possession from the start.
Read also on New Daily Prime:Arteta keeps faith in Arsenal title bid despite Manchester City surge
Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City at end of season
Manchester City crush Liverpool 4-0 to storm into FA Cup semifinals
Early chances fell to both sides, but marginal offside calls denied clear opportunities, including one for Leo Scienza. Southampton defended stoutly and kept a clean sheet in the first half their record of not conceding before the break in this season’s FA Cup continued.
City pressed hard after the interval, with Pep Guardiola introducing fresh legs, including Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly, to intensify the attack.
Southampton stunned the crowd 11 minutes from time when Finn Azaz curled home a brilliant effort. However, their lead lasted only four minutes. Jeremy Doku fired in a shot that deflected off James Bree past goalkeeper Daniel Peretz to level the score.
Moments later, Nico Gonzalez arrowed a powerful strike from range to turn the match around and secure victory. Southampton pushed forward desperately in the closing stages but could not respond, despite a goalline clearance to deny Savinho.
This result marks Manchester City’s eighth successive FA Cup semi-final appearance. It also inflicts Southampton’s first defeat since late January and ends their impressive cup run, shifting their focus back to the Championship promotion battle.
Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have reached the FA Cup final every season since 2023:
In 2023, they defeated Manchester United 2-1 to lift the trophy.
In 2024, they lost to Manchester United 1-2 in the final.
In 2025, they fell to Crystal Palace 0-1 in the final.
Dreams of another domestic treble remain alive for City, who will now face either Chelsea or Leeds United in the final. Meanwhile, Southampton’s only previous FA Cup triumph came in 1975/76, but they will not repeat that feat this year.
