Manchester City Successful streak continues. However, the favorite had to score 2-1 (0-0) on Saturday (April 25th, 2026) in the semi-finals of the FA Cup against second division team FC Southampton work properly.
The surprise team from Southampton with German coach Tonda Eckert made life extremely difficult for star coach Pep Guardiola’s star selection and even took the lead through Finn Azaz (79th). But that awakened the last bit of energy in the favorites: Jeremy Doku (83′) and Nico Gonzalez (87′) turned the game around in the final phase with a fantastic goal.
While for Southampton, which is in the Championship for a place in the promotionPlayoffs After 20 games without defeat, the winning streak at least in the cup came to an end, Manchester has a chance of winning all three titles in England. In the final – the fourth in a row for the “Citizens” – it will be on May 16th at London’s Wembley Stadium against the winner of the second semi-final between FC Chelsea and Leeds United on Sunday (4 p.m.).
The “Citizens” already won the league cup with a 2-0 win in the final against FC arsenal won. In the close championship duel Premier League With Arsenal FC, the team still has every chance of winning the title.
Scienza scores for Southampton – and will whistled back
The outsider made life difficult for the “Skyblues” in their stadium. Guardiola initially left some stars on the bench. But his second choice definitely still had it Champions League-Level.
Nevertheless, Southampton caused the first upset. Ex-Heidenheimer Leo Scienza escaped on a long pass down the left side and put the ball in the goal. However, the Brazilian was just offside (12′).
Bayern loan Peretz makes City despair
Little by little the hosts got better and better into the game. Omar Marmoush in particular had a few shots in a good position, but missed and was caught by the many-legged “Saints“-Defense blocked or found his master in the goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who was borrowed from Bayern Munich.
So the second half went goalless. After an early opportunity from Tom Fellows (47th), Southampton had nothing to report for a long time. At the latest, when Guardiola gradually brought in his stars like Doku and Erling Haaland from the 60th minute onwards, City restricted the guests in their own penalty area.
Azaz gives Saints lead with dream goal
But Southampton, which had previously eliminated two Premier League clubs, Fulham and, above all, Arsenal, defended passionately and energetically.
And then Azaz’s big moment came in the 79th minute: After a quick attack from the left, the visitors’ ten-man team was completely free centrally on the edge of the penalty area and turned perfectly into the top right corner to make it 1-0.
Manchester City turns the game around in four minutes
However, the outsider’s joy and hopes didn’t last long. Just four minutes later, Doku was there and marked the 1-1 with a deflected shot from half left from 14 meters. A wild final phase followed. Southampton didn’t hide and still had a great chance.
But the “Citizens” had the last word – and how: Nico Gonzalez took heart from half-left from 25 meters and chased the ball into the left corner as if pulled on a string to make it 2-1. The end of a real cup fight with a happy ending for favorites Manchester City.
