Manchester City secured their place in a third consecutive FA Cup final with a controlled 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Early goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol sealed the win for Pep Guardiola’s men, who now move within one step of lifting more silverware this season.
For Nottingham Forest, the afternoon was a story of missed chances and what-ifs, particularly after a second-half rally that saw them hit the woodwork three times without finding the net.
Flying Start for City
Forest fans arrived at Wembley filled with hope, but those dreams were quickly dented. Within just two minutes, City had struck their first blow. Youngster Rico Lewis latched onto a neat pass from Mateo Kovacic, turned sharply on the edge of the box, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner past Matz Sels.
It was a moment of brilliance from Lewis, but also a defensive disaster for Forest. Their backline hesitated and allowed the City midfielder just enough space to make a telling impact.
From that point, City completely dominated the first half. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side struggled to string any passes together, managing just 12 successful passes in the entire first 45 minutes compared to Kovacic’s 56 alone. The Forest defenders looked confused without a clear City centre-forward to mark, and the midfield was overrun.
Manchester City are heading to their third straight #EmiratesFACup Final after a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at @wembleystadium pic.twitter.com/rMXi4jBCUX
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 27, 2025
Despite City’s dominance, clear-cut chances were rare. Jack Grealish combined smartly with Omar Marmoush only for the final shot to sail over, while young left-back Nico O’Reilly also tested Sels with a low drive.
Forest Wake Up — But City Strike Again
If Forest were to have any hope, they needed a strong start to the second half. Nuno made a bold move by introducing Anthony Elanga at the break, and it almost paid immediate dividends.
Callum Hudson-Odoi raced down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Elanga, who somehow missed the target from seven yards out. It was a massive let-off for Guardiola’s side — and a massive missed opportunity for Forest.
City responded with renewed energy. After a string of saves from Sels to deny Lewis and Matheus Nunes, City won a corner. Josko Gvardiol rose highest to meet the delivery and powered a header past Sels to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute.
From that point, Guardiola’s men looked in total control once more, and Forest had to chase the game.
Forest’s Fightback Comes Too Late
To their credit, Forest didn’t lie down. They became braver, pushed higher up the pitch, and created chances.
Morgan Gibbs-White rattled the crossbar with a stunning volley after good work from Elanga. Moments later, Gibbs-White again found himself in a one-on-one with Stefan Ortega, but after rounding the City keeper, his angled shot struck the far post.
The woodwork came to City’s rescue for a third time when Taiwo Awoniyi flicked the ball against Ortega’s post from close range. Despite all their effort and fight in the second half, the ball simply refused to find the net for Forest.
City were not as dominant in the second half as they were in the first, but they remained dangerous on the counter. Marmoush forced a sharp save from Sels at the near post, while City’s composure under pressure highlighted their big-game experience.
City Eye More Silverware
For Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, reaching a third straight FA Cup final is a major achievement, especially in a season where their Premier League form has been more inconsistent than usual.
With key names like Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden missing from the starting line-up, Guardiola’s side showed the depth and class that has made them the benchmark of English football in recent years.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest will reflect on a game of missed opportunities. After taking 30 minutes to settle, they showed in patches they could match City for intensity and creativity. However, at this level, slow starts and missed chances are always punished.
For now, Forest must turn their attention back to the Premier League top-five race, while City will prepare for another trip to Wembley, with dreams of lifting the FA Cup trophy once again.
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