Dethroned Premier League champions, Manchester City, will get the chance to end a below-par season with silverware after reaching the FA Cup final for a third successive season with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the second semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side quickly asserted their dominance over Nuno Espirito Santo’s team in London and broke the deadlock inside two minutes, with Rico Lewis drilling a fine finish into the bottom corner after being played through by Mateo Kovacic.
Forest struggled to impose themselves or get a foothold in the match in a passive first-half display. Nuno Esprito Santo brought on Anthony Elanga at half-time and the winger should have had an instant impact but fluffed his lines and fired wide when Callum Hudson-Odoi rolled a low cross into the box for him.
City then came close to doubling their lead but Kovacic’s deflected strike was hooked away on the line by Forest keeper Matz Sels. The outgoing Premier League title holders would get the second goal when a corner swung to the back post and Josko Gvardiol rose highest to head home.
Forest needed a response and they soon fashioned out several opportunities albeit with little luck. Morgan Gibbs-White smashed a stunning volley against the bar and was then denied again by the post from a tight angle after Josko Gvardiol had given the ball away.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s effort also found the upright as he reacted to a rebound as Forest went in search of a way back into the match, while a Gibbs-White’s header was kept out by Stefan Ortega as City held on to seal the win and set up a tantalising final.
City will take on Crystal Palace on May 17th at Wembley as they bid to see out the campaign with silverware.