Manchester City Reaches FA Final: Late Comeback Stuns Southampton

Manchester City secured a place in a fourth consecutive FA Cup 2025/26 final after coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 in their semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

City were trailing late in the match after Southampton broke the deadlock through Finn Azaz, whose long-range effort in the 79th minute put the Championship side in front. The goal came after a disciplined performance from Southampton, who had earlier tested City’s reshuffled lineup and had a first-half effort ruled out for offside.

Late Turnaround Seals Result

The game shifted quickly in the closing stages. Jeremy Doku restored parity for City with a strike from the edge of the area that took a deflection off James Bree. Moments later, Nico Gonzalez completed the turnaround with a long-range finish in the 87th minute, registering City’s longest goal of the season.

City improved after the break following the introduction of Erling Haaland and Doku, increasing their attacking output. They finished with a clear advantage in attempts on goal, reflecting their control in the second half.

Managers React After Semi-final

City manager Pep Guardiola praised his side’s response after falling behind and highlighted their control in the latter stages. He also noted the significance of reaching another FA Cup final, describing the run as an extraordinary achievement.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert acknowledged the disappointment following the defeat but urged his players to remain focused on their Championship campaign and push for a play-off position.

Southampton, despite competing a division below City, delivered a competitive performance and were close to extending their run after their quarter-final win over Arsenal.