Manchester City had to dig deep at Wembley, but they came through with a dramatic 2-1 semi-final win over Southampton to book a place in the FA Cup final. Southampton shocked City by taking the lead through Finn Azaz in the 79th minute, but Jeremy Doku equalised four minutes later before Nico Gonzalez smashed in the winner in the 87th minute. The result sends City into a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final.
Pep Guardiola made eight changes to the side that faced Burnley, with John Stones captaining the team and James Trafford starting in goal.
The City XI also included Matheus Nunes, Nathan Aké, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Nico, Mateo Kovacic, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, and Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City vs Southampton – Player Ratings
- Manchester City vs Southampton
- Competition: Emirates FA Cup semi-final
- Date: Saturday, 25 April 2026
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
- Kick-off: 5:15 pm BST
Man City Player Ratings
James Trafford – 6/10
Could do little about Azaz’s excellent strike from distance. Before that, City’s official match report said they had forced Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz into a few smart saves, but Trafford himself was only beaten once and was not at fault.
Matheus Nunes – 7/10
Solid and disciplined in a rotated back line. He did not grab the headlines, but he helped City stay organised while the game was still tight and awkward. His inclusion in Guardiola’s heavily changed XI showed City were still prioritising control from the start.
John Stones – 7.5/10
A calm captain’s performance. Stones brought leadership to a team that had to manage a tense semi-final, and City’s decision to hand him the armband underlines his importance in big moments.
Nathan Aké – 7/10
Reliable throughout and part of a back line that kept Southampton from creating much for long spells. He did his job without fuss, which is exactly what City needed before the late chaos.
Rayan Aït-Nouri – 7/10
Looked comfortable in a match where City had to be patient. He offered balance on the left and helped keep the structure intact while City searched for a breakthrough.
Nico – 9.5/10
The match-winner, the difference-maker, the man of the moment. Nico produced the decisive blow with a thunderous long-range strike in the 87th minute, sealing City’s comeback and sending them to the final in style. This was a huge semi-final performance under pressure.
Mateo Kovacic – 6.5/10
A welcome first start of the season, and he brought experience into midfield. He helped City keep the ball moving, but this was more of a steadying role than a headline performance.
Tijjani Reijnders – 6.5/10
Worked hard in midfield and helped City keep territorial control before the match opened up late on. Not flashy, but important in a game that demanded patience.
Rayan Cherki – 6.5/10
Interchanged intelligently behind the striker and looked lively in pockets. He did not produce the final decisive pass, but he was part of the creative platform City used to build pressure.
Phil Foden – 6.5/10
Neat rather than explosive. Foden was involved in City’s attacking structure and helped keep Southampton pinned back, even if the game’s decisive moments came from elsewhere.
Omar Marmoush – 6/10
City’s main attacking reference from the start, but Southampton limited his influence for long stretches. He had moments, yet not enough to unlock the game before the late comeback.
Substitutes
Jeremy Doku – 8.5/10
A brilliant impact sub. Doku came on and immediately changed the mood of the match with the equaliser, his deflected shot finding the net just four minutes after Southampton had gone ahead. That was a classic game-turning cameo.
Erling Haaland – N/A
Used as a bench option in this semi-final, so no rating. City had the luxury of bringing elite attacking depth off the bench.
Savinho – N/A
An unused option from the bench.
Bernardo Silva – N/A
An unused option from the bench.
Man of the Match
Nico Gonzalez gets the nod. Doku swung the momentum, but Nico won the game with an outrageous finish when the pressure was at its highest. That is the kind of moment semi-finals are built on.
Final Verdict
City were not at their free-flowing best, but they were ruthless when it mattered. Southampton made them work, yet Guardiola’s side still found a way, which is often the mark of elite cup teams. The comeback keeps City alive in their bid for another trophy, and this one will be remembered for Doku’s spark and Nico’s thunderbolt.