Manchester City 2-1 Southampton and Guardiola is heading back to Wembley for a fourth consecutive FA Cup final after a Saturday semi-final that almost slipped away.
City kept the 4-3-2-1 from the teamsheet, James Trafford behind a back four of Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Rayan Ait-Nouri with Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González and Mateo Kovacic stitching midfield. Omar Marmoush led the line while Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden floated as dual creators. S. Rusk packed Southampton’s defence with Tom Fellows and Welington operating as wide markers either side of James Bree, Nathan Wood and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Finn Azaz and Leo Scienza supported Ross Stewart, looking to survive without the ball and break once.
Guardiola’s side monopolised territory from the start, 70 percent possession and 18 efforts inside the box tell their own story, yet an over-cluttered central corridor and Marmoush’s wastefulness meant Daniel Peretz enjoyed an unexpectedly calm first half. Reijnders kept recycling, Nico prowled between the lines, but without depth runs City became predictable against a low block that stayed narrow and compact.
Here we go, the switch at 58 minutes changed the whole tempo. Jerémy Doku replaced Kovacic, Savinho took Foden’s slot and City finally stretched the pitch. Doku won 13 of 16 duels and beat his man repeatedly, forcing Southampton’s wing backs to retreat. Rusk countered at 61 minutes by calling for Cyle Larin and Shea Charles, adding legs for transitions that had been missing. The gamble paid off when another substitute arrived: Kuryu Matsuki replaced Welington in the 76th minute and immediately found space to receive.
Against the run of play Southampton landed the first punch. In the 79th minute Matsuki supplied Azaz and the midfielder beat Trafford to hush the City end. It was their only shot on target of the half, yet it left Guardiola staring at a familiar Wembley scare.
Guardiola’s bench depth decided it. Three minutes later, the 82nd minute, Doku levelled from a Reijnders pass. No frills, just the reward for relentless pressure. Then the winner, five minutes from time: in the 87th minute Doku served Nico, who finished to turn Wembley sky blue. Bernardo Silva arrived for Reijnders at 85 minutes to lock down control, and City never loosened their grip again.
Southampton’s last act was frustration, Harwood-Bellis booked for a foul in the 90+3rd minute as City shielded possession through eight additional minutes. Trafford’s calm distribution and Stones’ authority at the back ensured there was no late twist, despite Erling Haaland entering at 71 minutes to occupy the centre-backs and help stretch them vertically.
Statistics
- Shots: Manchester City 26, Southampton 4
- On target: Manchester City 6, Southampton 3
- Possession: Manchester City 70 percent, Southampton 30 percent
- Corners: Manchester City 10, Southampton 3
- Saves: Trafford 2, Peretz 3
Doku and Nico were the difference-makers. The Belgian’s cameo was a masterclass, five key passes and 11 successful dribbles from 14 attempted. Nico’s influence never dipped, 83 passes at 79 percent accuracy and the decisive strike to cap it. Reijnders left with an assist, Cherki kept threading passes despite limited space, and the defensive trio of Stones, Ake and Nunes allowed City to play on the front foot without fear.
For Southampton there is pride in the structure S. Rusk designed and in Azaz’s discipline, but they leave Wembley chastened by the ruthless reality of City’s depth. The Saints must regroup quickly for their league run-in while Harwood-Bellis leads a bruised back line.
City meanwhile plan the final stretch. Guardiola will rotate before reassembling this core for the showpiece, opponent still to be confirmed. Wembley is becoming familiar ground, and with Doku in this mood the holders carry a decisive advantage into the last step.
