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:
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
82 mins: Not to be for Forest. They’ve got plenty of bodies in the box as Awoniyi hits the post and Gibbs-White struggles to get his head to the rebound, with Ortega leaping to save.
Drama down the other end as City counter, but Milenkovic chases down and Sels punts it clear.
Changes: Foden and Doku on for Marmoush and Savinho, Jota Silva and Sosa come on for Abbott, who has hurt himself, and Dominguez.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
78 mins: Marmoush makes a brilliant run, squaring to Savinho as the Brazilian runs into acres of space on the right of the boz, but City run out of room as Forest rush back to defend.
O’Reilly goes into the book for bringing down Elanga.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
74 mins: Kovacic plays a sublime pass into O’Reilly in the area. He cuts it back for Savinho but Sels scrambles to clear, and as it falls back to O’Reilly Abbott makes a crucial block. The resulting corner is dealt with.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
71 mins: Changes for both sides. Anderson and Wood come off for Sangare and Awoniyi. Grealish is replaced by Gundogan.
CLOSE! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
69 mins: How are Forest not back in this?! Gvardiol gives the ball away under pressure by Dominguez and with Ortega stranded off his line Gibbs-White jinks into space and shoots from a tight angle.
It looks destined for the back of the net, but it hits the post!
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
68 mins: Much more purpose from Forest now. Anderson squeezes in between a couple of defenders but his low strike drifts wide. Ortega wasn’t troubled there.
Nuno prepares to make changes.
HITS THE POST! Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
65 mins: So, so close! Elanga makes an electric counter-attack, his pace beating City’s back line, and passes forward to Wood. It comes back to the Swede, who lays it off for Gibbs-White, who thumps it goalward on the half-volley - but it hits the bar! That would have made a stunning goal. So unlucky.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
64 mins: Gibbs-White wins the ball back and passes forward to Wood, but Ortega rushes off his line to clear.
Silva crosses in to the Forest box and Murillo deflects for another City corner. Forest will be wary after the last one.
This one is not so good, but Marmoush recycles. Grealish, on the edge of the box, combines nicely with the Egyptian but Marmoush’s attempt from the left is tipped over the crossbar by Sels.
Sels spills the ball as City come forward again, but it’s eventually dealt with.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City
60 mins: Elanga shrugs off O’Reilly down the right, escaping a sliding challenge, and lays it off for Wood, but he can’t quite get there.
The birthday boy is looking Forest’s most likely scorer at the moment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments