Nico Gonzalez scored a stunning goal to send Manchester City into the FA Cup final after a 2-1 win over Southampton at Wembley.
The Spanish midfielder let loose from 30 yards to complete the comeback after the second-tier Saints had taken a shock lead with more than 10 minutes left in the match.
Jeremy Doku’s curling shot brought the sides back moments after Finn Azaz had scored a wonder goal for Saints.
Southampton defended strongly throughout but they could not see out what would have been a memorable victory in the capital.
In the end, Gonzalez’s brilliant strike secured Pep Guardiola’s side a place in the final as City’s top three hopes remain strong.
The best city since the erasure
Perhaps predictably, City dominated from the outside. However, the Championship’s high-flyers almost produced an early shock when Leo Scienza struck a header into the bottom corner after 13 minutes, but the Brazilian was on target.
The Premier League side continued to dominate the ball, but Guardiola’s men failed to find the same rhythm as City under the Catalan boss.
Meanwhile, Southampton were solid in defence, frustrating their top-flight opponents.
An exciting second half
The second half started much the same – City investigating; the Saints remained strong.
Tijjani Reijnders went close just before the hour when his curling effort went just wide of the far post. Moments later, Omar Marmoush squandered a good chance when he headed over Southampton’s goal from Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cut-back.
The Egyptian was inches away from getting on the end of Rayan Cherki’s ball when City pushed for the first goal.
Savinho’s effort was met by Daniel Peretz before Reijnders’ low strike went over the bar.
But for all the pressure from City, it was Southampton who broke the deadlock. And it came in a wonderful way.
At the end of some extraordinary work from the opposition, the Saints passed the ball to Azaz on the edge of the area.
The Republic of Ireland international unleashed a brilliant strike that gave James Trafford no chance before smashing into the net to spark jubilant scenes inside Wembley.
The lead lasted less than two minutes, Doku equalizing himself when his curling shot went past Peretz.
With the contest well and truly alive, Trafford headed a Saints effort over the bar before City completed the comeback three minutes from time.
The ball fell to Gonzalez 30 yards from goal. The Spaniard took a touch at his feet before producing an unstoppable effort that flew into the goal to prompt wild celebrations among the City fans.
Kuryu Matsuki then cleared Savinho from the line after Southampton had thrown men ahead. It was the end of the game as the fierce competition came to an end and City advanced to the final.
The line
Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Kovacic, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Marmoush
Subscribers: Donnarumma, Haaland, Doku, Guéhi, Bernardo, Savinho, O’Reilly, Khusanov, Lewis
Southampton XI: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Welington, Bragg, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Stewart.
Subscribers: Long, Quarshie, Jelert, Charles, Matsuki, Edozie, Robinson, Archer, Larin
