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Manchester City 2 (Jeremy Doku 82′, Nico 87′)
Southampton 1 (Finn Azaz 79′)
Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City have booked their place in this season’s FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Southampton today at Wembley. Tonda Eckert’s side took the lead through a quality strike from Finn Azaz in the 79th minute. At that point, it did seem like a famous FA Cup upset was on the cards. However, a deflected Jeremy Doku goal and a Nico rocket saw City win today’s FA Cup semi-final.
Pep Guardiola rotated his squad today as he made eight changes to the starting lineup that best Burnley 1-0. The City manager had spoke of the fact that fatigue had hit affected some players ahead of today’s match. He took the opportunity to rotate his players for today’s FA Cup semi-final.
First half.
Manchester City made a controlled start to the match. City were excellent in possession in the opening five minutes as their passing play kept Southampton pinned in the game’s early stages. City created their first chance of the match in the fifth minute. After a prolonged spell of possession, Omar Marmoush was played in behind the Southampton defense. Omar Marmoush played a ball from the right to Tijjani Reijnders, who had acres of room in the Southampton penalty area to shoot. Reijnders got a powerful shot in on goal that Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz tipped onto the post. However, Omar Marmoush had strayed offside in the buildup, but City’s first attacking foray was a warning to Southampton.
Southampton had a goal ruled out for offside in the 12th minute. Leo Scienza beat James Trafford with a composed finish after Southampton had won an aerial duel to set up their chance. However, the linesman’s flag was raised after the ball hit the back of the net to deny Tonda Eckert’s side a dream start to the match. Leo Scienza’s disallowed goal was a warning to Manchester City that Southampton weren’t at Wembley just for the occasion.
Mateo Kovacic drove through the heart of the Southampton defence in the 19th minute. The Croatian midfielder got himself into a great position and fizzed a dangerous ball across the Southampton penalty area. However, Kovacic’s ball had too much on it, and perhaps a more subtle ball from him would have provided Omar Marmoush with a tap-in.
Southampton had grown into the game in the opening half-hour.
As the game approached the half-hour mark, Southampton had grown into the match. Tonda Eckert’s side had enjoyed a good spell of possession. They had also earned themselves a series of free kicks from dangerous positions that the Manchester City defence dealt with. To Southampton’s credit, they had grown into the match well after City dominated the early stages.
Omar Marmoush was denied by Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz in the 34th minute. Mateo Kovacic played the Egyptian international in behind the Southampton defence with a quality ball. Marmoush got a shot away from close range on the left-hand side of the Southampton penalty area with his left foot that Peretz kept out at his near post with a smart save.
Matheus Nunes went down with an injury in the 40th minute. The Portuguese international received treatment for a couple minutes before the match resumed. Matheus Nunes’ condition was worth keeping an eye on for the remainder of the match.
There were no more significant moments in the first half following Matheus Nunes’ injury concern. At halftime, the game was delicately poised at nil-all. Manchester City had dominated possession but struggled to create any real openings. Southampton had defended resolutely and offered a threat on the break. There was all to play for in the second half after an even first 45 minutes.
For Manchester City, their first-half performance resembled that of a rusty side. That was understandable considering that the majority of the players who started the match haven’t played any meaningful minutes for some time. Mateo Kovacic was the standout City player of the first half, and Pep Guardiola’s side needed to lift in the second half to make their fourth consecutive FA Cup final.
Second half.
After both teams had half-chances immediately after halftime, Manchester City had a five-minute spell of dominance that resulted in a series of half-chances that came to nothing. The best opportunity came in the 51st minute as Rayan Cherki played a teasing low cross across the Southampton six-yard box, but no City player was on hand to tap the ball in. Also, the threat of Omar Marmoush getting in behind was beginning to become a constant threat to Tonda Eckert’s side.
Tijjani Reijnders curled a long-range effort just wide of the far post in the 58th minute. Reijnders was found in space on the left-hand side of the Southampton penalty area, and the Dutch international curled an effort just wide of the far post. Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz was stranded as the ball went inches wide.
Omar Marmoush put the best chance of the match over the bar a minute later. Manchester City worked a short corner from the right-hand side to the left. Jeremy Doku played Rayan Ait-Nouri in behind the Southampton defence, and the Algerian international cut the ball back to Omar Marmoush five yards out from goal. But Marmoush fired his first-time shot over the bar, and he should have at least hit the target.
Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz made a fine save to deny Savinho in the 63rd minute. The Brazilian international was teed up for a shot from the right-hand side of the Southampton penalty area by Rayan Cherki. Savinho’s low shot was on target, but Peretz got down well to his right to punch the ball away.
Manchester City keep pushing for a goal as the game enters the final 20 minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s side were pressing to find a goal in the 70th minute. Rayan Cherki made a driving run at the Southampton defence and picked out Nico on this right. The Spanish midfielder unleashed a powerful strike on goal that Daniel Peretz kept out. The rebound fell to Rayan Cherki who saw his goal bound shot blocked by Southampton midfielder Shea Charles. Tijjani Reijnders would fire a left-footed volley wide of the target on the rebound from Cherki’s shot as City continued to push for a goal.
Southampton take the lead after Rayan Cherki is dispossessed in midfield.
Despite Manchester City’s constant pressure, it would be Southampton who would take the lead in the 79th minute. Rayan Cherki was dispossessed in midfield and that allowed Tonda Eckert’s side to break. The Saints broke forward well and the ball found itself to Finn Azaz just outside the City penalty area. Amazing curled in a superb effort into the top corner leaving James Trafford with no chance and sending the Southampton fans delirious. It was a superb goal from Finn Azaz and now Pep Guardiola’s side had it all to do to find an equalizer.
Jeremy Doku equalizes for City!!!!!
Southampton’s lead would only last three minutes. Jeremy Doku would pick the ball up on the left wing and cut inside and fire in a shot with his right foot. Doku’s shot took a deflection off of Southampton defender James Bree and beat Daniel Peretz to make it 1-1.
James Trafford would make a good save to prevent Southampton from taking a 2-1 lead a minute after Jeremy Doku’s goal. The Saints created a chance and Kuryu Matsuki fired in a strong strike at goal that Trafford tipped over the bar for a corner.
NICO THUNDERS MANCHESTER CITY INTO THE LEAD!!!!!
Manchester City took the lead in the 87th minute. Another brief spell of City pressure left Nico in space 30 yards from goal. The Spanish midfielder fired in an unstoppable drive that gave Daniel Peretz no chance as it rocketed into the back of the net. It was a superb goal from Nico, and now City had a lead to hold onto as the match entered stoppage time.
Savinho would have a shot cleared off the line in first minute of stoppage time. City surged forward on the break after two Southampton corners. Jeremy Doku was set free and Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz made a rash challenge that Doku evaded to leave City with an unguarded net to attack. Doku did everything right but in the process, the Southampton defence got back. Doku played a ball to the one City pkayer you didn’t want to see the ball fall to in Savinho. The Brazilian international got a tame shot on goal that was cleared off the line by the Southampton defence.
That would be the final significant moment of the match, and when the final whistle blew, Manchester City had picked up a 2-1 win. Southampton, to their credit, had given Pep Guardiola’s side a massive fright, but in the end, City’s quality was the difference between the two teams. City booked their place in their fourth consecutive FA Cup final with a hard-fought win at Wembley.
City player ratings.
James Trafford-6.5/10: There was nothing Trafford could do about Finn Azaz’s wonder strike. HHowever he did make a fine and important save just after City equalized which was crucial.
Matheus Nunes-7/10: Nunes did his job well at right-back without being spectacular.
John Stones-7/10: A good performance from Stones which was a reminder of his quality when he is fit.
Nathan Ake-7.5/10: Another quality display at the back from Ake.
Rayan Ait-Nouri-7/10: A good display from Ait-Nouri, especially in the second half. The Algerian international was a constant threat to the Southampton defence before he was taken off.
Nico-8/10: The Spanish midfielder scored an absolute screamer to win the game for his team. His overall performance in midfield was very good as well.
Mateo Kovacic-7.5/10: The Croatian midfielder was Manchester City’s best player while he was on the pitch. He was a threat going forward and good on the ball when required.
Tijjani Reijnders-6/10: Reijnders was poor in the first half, but he was much better in the second half.
Rayan Cherki-6.5/10: The French international constantly threatened the Southampton defence, especially in the second half. However, he did give away possession which led to Southampton’s goal which drops his mark for the match.
Phil Foden-5/10: The England international couldn’t get into the match at all when playing in a central role. Foden shifted onto the right wing and offered more. However, his performance wasn’t great before he was replaced by Savinho after 57 minutes.
Omar Marmoush-5/10: The Egyptian international had his moments but he didn’t take them. His performance today was a good summary of his recent displays for City.
Substitutes.
Savinho-6/10: Another frustrating display from Savinho. He had two shots cleared off the line which is the perfect encapsulation of his troubles in front of goal.
Jeremy Doku-8.5/10: When it seemed that Southampton could complete an FA Cup fairytale, it was Jeremy Doku who denied them. He scored City’s equalizer and he was a constant threat when he came off the bench.
Nico O’Reilly-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
Erling Haaland-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
Bernardo Silva-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
