Player Ratings: FA Cup Final Awaits Manchester City After Victory Over Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Manchester City Overcome Nottingham Forest to Book FA Cup Final Place

Manchester City secured their passage to the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over a spirited Nottingham Forest side at Wembley Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s men were clinical when it mattered most, with goals at crucial junctures crushing Forest’s hopes of a historic afternoon.

Early Strike Sets City on Course

City needed little time to make their presence felt. With barely two minutes on the clock, Rico Lewis received a smart pass from Mateo Kovacic on the edge of the box and calmly fired past Matz Sels to hand the Cityzens an early lead.

It was a hammer blow for Nottingham Forest, who had arrived at Wembley buoyed by the occasion. Yet against Guardiola’s well-drilled side, early mistakes are often fatal. City dominated the opening stages, dictating possession and keeping Forest penned in their own half.

However, despite their superiority, clear-cut chances for City were limited. Forest, though rattled, managed to stay within touching distance at the break, offering a glimmer of hope for a second-half resurgence.

Forest’s Missed Chances Prove Costly

The introduction of Anthony Elanga at half-time brought renewed energy for Forest. The Swedish international had a golden opportunity to level almost immediately after coming on, but he could only steer Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross wide when scoring seemed simpler.

City were quick to punish that miss. From a well-worked set-piece, Josko Gvardiol rose highest to head home City’s second, giving Stefan Ortega and the defence a greater margin for comfort as the match wore on.

Forest refused to bow out quietly. Morgan Gibbs-White was desperately unlucky not to halve the deficit, twice striking the frame of the goal, while Taiwo Awoniyi thundered an effort against the post. On another day, Forest’s persistence might have been rewarded.

Photo: IMAGO

City March On as Forest Fall Short

In the end, fine margins decided the semi-final. Forest’s misfortune in front of goal allowed Manchester City to control the latter stages with composure, seeing out the victory without undue alarm.

While Forest’s dream of FA Cup glory faded at Wembley, their endeavour and spirit throughout the contest deserve immense credit. For Guardiola’s side, another final awaits — a familiar stage for a team accustomed to chasing silverware on all fronts.

Crystal Palace now stand between City and another piece of silverware, but Forest can walk away knowing they made the holders work harder than the scoreline suggests.

Player Ratings

Nottingham Forest:

Manchester City: