Manchester City 2-1 Southampton: Late goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez seal a comeback for the Premier League leaders and a place in the FA Cup final.
Nico Gonzalez scores Man City’s winning goal (Image: Alex Pantling/The FA via Getty Images)
Manchester City came from behind to score two late goals against Wembley and beat Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final. Finn Azas’ curling strike put the Championship side ahead, but Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez sent City into the final, where they will face either Chelsea or Leeds.
Daniel Peretz had City’s best chance of the first half, denying Omar Marmouche’s near-post effort, but the Championship side defended tenaciously to frustrate City. The Premier League leaders intensified their intensity after the break and Perez had to be alert to push aside Sabinho’s curling shot and Gonzalez’s powerful shot.
Pep Guardiola turned his back to the bench, but it was Saints who took the lead with just their second shot on target. Kaspar Jandel pinched the ball and the ball was fed to Azaz, who turned the ball around and fired a stunning goal from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 1-0 in the 79th minute.
Southampton’s lead did not last long as Doc equalized just three minutes later after a lucky deflection. There was no luck for the winners as Gonzalez fired an unstoppable shot from range into the top corner. City should have made it 3-1 when Perez left the goal towards the end of the second half, but Sabinho’s shot was cleared on the line.
Here are the highlights from Wembley, where City ended Saints’ 20-match unbeaten run and reached the FA Cup final for the fourth consecutive year.
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1. Eckert’s stock rises
Back at the beginning of the season, not many football fans knew about Tonda Eckert. The 33-year-old arrived on the south coast to take charge of Saints’ Under-21 side, stepping into the void created by the sacking of Will Still and undergoing a meteoric rise that completely changed Southampton’s season.
Although relatively unknown, the German is a student of the game and was coached by the Red Bull team at Bayern Munich, Barnsley and Genoa before arriving at Southampton. He has acquired some powerful backers as he rises through the ranks, and seems destined for the top.
Eckert’s tactical acumen was clearly evident in the 2-1 win over Arsenal in the quarter-finals, and was again on display against Wembley when Saints restricted City to 0.27xG in the first half.
Tonda Eckert’s star has risen this season (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
2. Foden becomes powerless again.
Phil Foden has caught the eye of manager Thomas Tuchel and is keen to return to England’s World Cup squad, but things are not going well. With the arrival of Rayan Cherki, Foden was pushed to the fringes of City, and although he was given a starting spot at Wembley, he failed to capitalize on the chance.
Saints’ low block, and the awkwardness of standout performers Jander and Cameron Bragg, left Foden with little room to operate and none of the performances he had previously become accustomed to. He was substituted in the 58th minute, with time running out for a World Cup appearance.
Phil Foden failed to make an impact and was substituted (Image: Cameron Smith/The FA via Getty Images)
3. Thorough defense
Southampton’s game plan was clear and easy to understand. They knew City would dominate possession and adopted a similar tactic to Arsenal’s quarter-final. That meant sitting deep, staying organized, absorbing pressure and trying to make the most of counter-attacks.
The Saints were without three key players, with Ryan Manning and Flynn Downs suspended and Jack Stevens injured. But you wouldn’t have known that. Wellington, a substitute left-back, was excellent in one-on-one situations, Nathan Wood was resolute in the center of defence, and Jander more than compensated for Downs’ tenacity in midfield.
Saints defended resolutely (Image: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
4. Games come to life
After taking half control of the City, Azaz had a cat-in-the-pigeon moment. The tireless Jander won the ball and his industry was rewarded by Azaz’s genius. He spun on the ball and curled it brilliantly past a helpless James Trafford, sending the Wembley half into a frenzy.
Sadly for the Championship side, it didn’t last long. Just three minutes later, Doc’s shot was deflected brutally by James Bree and into the bottom corner.
Finn Azaz curls Southampton forward (Image: Cameron Smith/The FA via Getty Images)
5. Gonzalez Lockett wins
Southampton sat deep and soaked up the pressure brilliantly. And they probably weren’t too worried when City’s keeping midfielder Gonzalez came forward with the ball. But it should have been. His rocket hit the top corner, giving Perez no chance and a goal that deservedly sealed the semi-final.
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