City Keep Trophy Hopes Alive
In a tense semifinal at Wembley, Manchester City brushed aside Nottingham Forest with a 2-0 win, booking their spot in a third consecutive FA Cup final.
Chasing silverware after a stuttering season under Pep Guardiola, City wasted no time. Teenage sensation Rico Lewis struck in the second minute, and Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol powered home a corner kick header in the 51st to seal victory.
Forest pressed hard, even rattling the woodwork three times, but City's defence held firm. The result comes hours after Liverpool secured the Premier League title, leaving City 21 points adrift in the standings and out of the Champions League last 16.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who set up Lewis's opener, summed it up: "The season has not been as we wanted, but we are still in another FA Cup final. So it's good that we want to finish it in a strong way."
Looking Ahead
- Final opponent: Crystal Palace on May 17
- Season context: No Premier League crown, early Champions League exit
- Key questions: Can City transform this campaign with a trophy?
Despite the setbacks, City fans remain hopeful. As Guardiola admitted, lifting the FA Cup would at least soften the blow of a season that fell short of lofty expectations.
Reference(s):
Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 to reach FA Cup final
cgtn.com
