Manchester City struggled to break down a stubborn Southampton defense for most of the match. However the game burst into life 11 minutes from time. Midfielder Finn Azaz curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner from distance to give Southampton a shock lead.
The goal sparked an immediate response from City. Meanwhile substitute Jeremy Doku drew City level three minutes later. Doku’s deflected shot from 18 yards trickled into the far corner to restore parity.
With extra time looming, City found the decisive breakthrough. Midfielder Nico Gonzalez stepped forward and struck with immense authority. His powerful finish from 25 yards flew into the top corner, beating goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and completing a dramatic 2-1 turnaround.
Gonzalez described scoring the winning goal at Wembley as an amazing feeling. “I gave it everything, I shot with everything and it went in,” Gonzalez said after the match. He added: “In this magnificent stadium and in these surroundings, it’s an indescribable feeling.”
Manager Pep Guardiola paid tribute to Southampton’s performance. “Big credit to the way they defended and how they played,” Guardiola said. Guardiola also praised his team’s resilience: “The team in the second half was really exceptional.”
The victory sends Manchester City to their fourth successive FA Cup final. They will face either Chelsea or Leeds United on May 16 at Wembley.
