Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The match remained goalless for much of the contest as City dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Southampton defence. Southampton, currently pushing for promotion from the Championship, remained compact and disrupted City’s attacking rhythm for long periods.
The match shifted late in the game. Southampton took a shock lead in the 79th minute when Amine Azaz struck from long range. The lead lasted only minutes. In the 82nd minute, Jeremy Doku drove into the box and fired a shot that deflected past the goalkeeper to level the score. His direct play shifted momentum back in City’s favour. Five minutes later, Nico González completed the comeback with a long-range strike, sealing a 2-1 victory.
Following the match, Pep Guardiola praised Jeremy Doku’s development over the past two years, stating in Dutch: “Hoe hij de laatste twee jaar is gegroeid… Hij is een ongelofelijk gevaar.” This translates to “How he has grown over the last two years… He is an incredible danger.” Guardiola highlighted Doku’s impact in decisive moments, noting that his equaliser changed the flow of the game.
Despite entering as favourites, City were made to work hard by a disciplined Southampton side. The victory keeps City’s hopes of a domestic treble alive, having already secured the EFL Cup and remaining in the Premier League title race. For Southampton, the result is a disappointment, but their performance showed resilience, pushing one of Europe’s top teams close to an upset.
Manchester City players celebrated after their late comeback against Southampton, with Jeremy Doku playing a key role in the 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory. The result sends Manchester City into their fourth consecutive FA Cup final, underlining their sustained domestic dominance.
The victory keeps City’s hopes of a domestic treble alive, having already secured the EFL Cup and remaining in the Premier League title race. For Southampton, the result is a disappointment, but their performance showed resilience, pushing one of Europe’s top teams close to an upset.
Manchester City will now face the winner of the other semi-final in the FA Cup final, scheduled for later this month at Wembley Stadium.
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