MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON: Late goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez sees the Premier League leaders come from behind to book their place in the FA Cup final
Nico Gonzalez of Manchester City celebrates
Nico Gonzalez smashed in the winner for Man City(Image: Alex Pantling/The FA via Getty Images)
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Manchester City scored two late goals at Wembley to come from behind and beat Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final. Finn Azaz's curling strike put the Championship side ahead, but Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez sent City into the final, where they will face Chelsea or Leeds.
Daniel Peretz kept out Omar Marmoush's near-post effort in City's best chance of a first half which saw the Championship side defend doggedly to frustrate them. The Premier League leaders increased the intensity after the break and Peretz had to be alert to push away Savinho's curling effort and Gonzalez's powerful shot.
Pep Guardiola turned to his bench, but it was Saints who took the lead with just their second shot on target. Caspar Jander pinched the ball and the ball was fed to Azaz, who turned and curled a stunning finish into the top corner from the edge of the box to make it 1-0 in the 79th minute.
Southampton's lead didn't last long, with Doku equalising after just three minutes via a fortunate deflection. There was nothing lucky about the winner, with Gonzalez smashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner from range. City should have made it 3-1 on the break when Peretz left his goal, but Savinho's effort was cleared off the line.
Here are the talking points from Wembley as City ended Saints' 20-game unbeaten run to reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup final.
1. Eckert's stock rises
Back at the start of the season, not many football fans were aware of Tonda Eckert. The 33-year-old arrived on the south coast to take charge of Saints' under-21s side and has enjoyed a meteoric rise, stepping into the void created by Will Still's sacking to completely transform Southampton's season.
Despite his relative obscurity, the German is a student of the game, having earned his stripes coaching in the Red Bull set-up, at Bayern Munich, Barnsley and Genoa before landing at Southampton. He has picked up some influential backers during his rise up the system and looks destined for the top.
Eckert's tactical acumen was there for all to see in the 2-1 win over Arsenal in the quarter-final and was evident once more in the first half at Wembley, as Saints restricted City to 0.27xG.
Tonda Eckert manager / head coach of Southampton interacts with Pep Guardiola Manager / Head Coach of Manchester City
Tonda Eckert's star has risen this season (Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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2. Foden ineffectual again
Phil Foden is desperate to catch the eye of Thomas Tuchel and force his way back into the England squad for the World Cup, but things just aren't happening for him. The arrival of Rayan Cherki has pushed Foden onto the perphery at City and he didn't take his chance when given a start at Wembley.
Saints' low block, and the hassling of stand-out performer Jander and Cameron Bragg, left Foden little room in which to operate and there was nothing of the performances we've previously become used to. He was substituted in the 58th minute and his time is running out to make to the World Cup.
Phil Foden of Manchester City
Phil Foden was subbed off having not made an impact(Image: Cameron Smith/The FA via Getty Images)
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3. Backs-to-the-wall defending
The Southampton game plan was obvious and understandable. They knew City would dominate possession and employed similar tactics to the Arsenal quarter-final: sit deep, stay organised, soak up pressure and try to make the most of counter-attacks.
Saints were without three key players, in the suspended Ryan Manning and Flynn Downes and the injured Jack Stephens. But you wouldn't have known it. Replacement left-back Wellington was superb in one-on-one situations, Nathan Wood was resolute in the middle of defence and Jander more than made up for Downes' tenacity in midfield.
Manchester City's Algerian defender #21 Rayan Ait-Nouri (R) runs
Saints defended resolutely(Image: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
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4. Game bursts into life
After a half of City domination, Azaz provided the moment which put the cat amongst the pigeons. The tireless Jander robbed the ball and his industry was rewarded by a piece of genius from Azaz, as he spun on the ball and curled a beauty past the helpless James Trafford to send half of Wembley crazy.
Sadly for the Championship side, it wasn't to last. Just three minutes later and Doku's shot took a cruel deflection off James Bree and found the bottom corner.
Finn Azaz of Southampton celebrates
Finn Azaz curled Southampton in front(Image: Cameron Smith/The FA via Getty Images)
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5. Gonzalez rocket wins it
Southampton had sat deep and soaked up pressure brilliantly. And they were probably not too concerned when City's holding midfielder Gonzalez stepped forward with the ball. But they should have been. His rocket found the top corner, leaving Peretz no chance, and was a goal worthy of settling a semi-final.
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