Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City LIVE: Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol goals send City into FA Cup final
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s side peak at the right time to remain on course for silverware
Manchester City booked their spot in the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over a spirited Nottingham Forest side at Wembley.
Forest were on the back foot from the off as the occasion threatened to overwhelm them, with Rico Lewis firing City ahead inside the opening two minutes.
They improved after the restart but Josko Gvardiol’s thumping header shortly after half-time meant Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had a mountain to climb, and despite hitting the woodwork three times - twice through Morgan Gibbs-White - they were unable to find their way back into the game.
Victory puts Manchester City into a third successive FA Cup final and Pep Guardiola’s side will face Crystal Palace at Wembley in the showpiece on 17 May. The same day they were dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool, who stormed past Tottenham 5-1 in the top flight, the seven-time FA Cup champions ensured they still have a chance of silverware this season.
Follow all of the latest from the FA Cup semi-final with our live blog below:
Lewis 'extraordinary' - Guardiola
Some reaction now.
"They pushed a little bit more in the second [half], we knew it,” Pep Guardiola tells BBC Sport. “We lost some balls - the fatigue was there. The experience we have fell down.
“The ball, the way it bounces, for both sides is difficult to control it. It cannot be quicker. We managed and I am really pleased to again be in the FA Cup final.”
Asked about Rico Lewis’ early goal, he says: “Rico moves in the pockets like very few players. He's an extraordinary player. He's so strong and so clever. We have to keep the ball because if you allow a lot of transitions it will be difficult.”
Liverpool win the Premier League
In case you missed it, while Manchester City were booking their spot in one final and ensuring they still have silverware to this season, they were officially dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s Reds battered Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield to lift the title in style.
Liverpool vs Tottenham LIVE: Reaction as Reds secure 20th top-flight title
FA Cup finalists set
Manchester City will meet Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 17 May.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
The City fans are in fine voice. Pep Guardiola’s men are into their third successive FA Cup final.
Gibbs-White looks absolutely gutted. Forest really improved through that second half, but just couldn’t get back into it.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
90+4 mins: Manchester City are into the semi-finals!
Still a shot at silverware for the soon-to-be-usurped Premier League champions.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
90+3 mins: Jota Silva thinks his header at the back post took a deflection. Elanga takes another corner, but it’s too deep and there’s no-one there to receive.
Hudson-Odoi recycles and Milenkovic knocks it forward, but Ortega collects and releases it for Doku, who sprints down the other end. He’s two on one with a couple of red shirts and Sosa goes into the book for bringing him down.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
90+2 mins: The City fans get the Poznan going. Liam Gallagher joins in.
Forest win a corner, Elanga to take.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
90 mins: Four minutes added on.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
89 mins: City give the ball away cheaply and Hudson-Odoi races away, but his pass is cut out. Gibbs-White gets in on the edge of the box and has a speculative punt/cross. Nothing comes of it.
Kovacic, who’s had a great game, comes off and gets a big hug from Guardiola. Nico Gonzalez comes on for the last few minutes.
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