**_LONDON_**: Manchester City came from behind to beat second tier Southampton 2-1 with a late goal from Nico Gonzalez at Wembley to book a place in an unprecedented fourth consecutive FA Cup final and keep alive their hopes of a domestic treble.
Southampton, who upset Arsenal 2-1 in the quarter-finals, looked poised to continue their dream run when Finn Azaz struck a gorgeous shot from distance in the 79th minute that James Trafford had little chance of stopping.
But in a thrilling second half of the semi-final, Jeremy Doku wiped out Southampton’s lead four minutes later when he worked the ball on to his right foot before unleashing a shot from the edge of the penalty area that deflected off James Bree and into the net.
Gonzalez struck a rocket from 30 yards out, the longest goal scored by any City player this season, in the 87th minute and City, who won the League Cup earlier this season and are neck and neck with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, held on for victory in a breathless final few minutes.
“Really special for me, especially because I’m not used to scoring these goals,” Gonzalez told TNT Sports. “So with the winning goal like this, in this amazing stadium, it’s amazing.”
City, who have hoisted the FA Cup trophy seven times, will meet the winners of Sunday’s semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United in the May 16 final at Wembley.
In the Premier League Arsenal regained top spot with a 1-0 win over Newcastle while relegation-fighting rivals West Ham and Tottenham both won against Everton and Wolves respectively.
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