On a sunny but tense afternoon at Wembley Stadium, Manchester City once again proved why they are a team built for the biggest occasions. Their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final wasn’t just about the goals; it was a clinical, controlled, and relentless performance that underlined Pep Guardiola’s hunger for more silverware. As City prepare for yet another final appearance, today’s victory felt like both a celebration of their depth and a clear warning to anyone standing in their way.
City wasted no time setting the tone. Just two minutes in, Mateo Kovacic found Rico Lewis with a sharp, incisive pass through the heart of Forest’s midfield. Lewis, still only 19 but playing with the maturity of a seasoned professional, drove forward and finished coolly past the keeper. It was a dream start for Guardiola’s side, who immediately took the sting out of Forest’s early ambitions. Lewis’ celebration — arms wide, face alight with emotion — captured the sheer joy of the moment and the significance of scoring at Wembley.
After the early breakthrough, City controlled possession with their familiar blend of short, sharp passing and tactical patience. Yet, to Forest’s credit, they refused to be overawed. Morgan Gibbs-White, their most creative outlet, came agonizingly close to leveling the score when he unleashed a rocket of a shot that smashed off the crossbar. Minutes later, Taiwo Awoniyi threatened again, clipping the post with a header that had Ederson completely beaten. These moments reminded everyone that, even at their most dominant, City can still be vulnerable to quick counters and individual brilliance.
However, just when the game seemed to open up slightly, City crushed any hopes of a Forest comeback. In the 51st minute, from a perfectly weighted Omar Marmoush corner, Josko Gvardiol rose highest and thumped home a bullet header to double City’s lead. It was a goal that spoke volumes about City’s set-piece prowess, something they have honed meticulously this season. Gvardiol, who has grown into an essential figure at the back, celebrated with a roar — a moment of pure release and affirmation of his growing stature in this side.
Forest pushed late on, with Gibbs-White again rattling the woodwork, but City’s defensive discipline, marshalled expertly by Ruben Dias and Rodri in midfield, ensured there was no dramatic twist. The final whistle confirmed City’s progression to their third consecutive FA Cup final, where Crystal Palace now await.
After the match, Pep Guardiola praised his team’s focus and spirit. "I'm very pleased with the performance," he said. "The mentality from the first second was perfect. We respected Nottingham Forest — we know they are dangerous — but we played with the seriousness a semi-final demands. Rico was outstanding today, but so were many others. When young players step up like that, it's a pleasure for any manager."
When asked about balancing the remainder of the season with the looming final, Guardiola was pragmatic. "We still have important league games to play. The final is special, of course, but we must focus on qualifying for the Champions League next season. That’s our immediate priority. One step at a time."
Rico Lewis, who was named Man of the Match, also shared his thoughts. "It's a dream come true to score here," he said, beaming. "The manager always tells us to play brave, to express ourselves, and today I just tried to do that. We know there’s a lot more work to do before we can lift the trophy."
For Nottingham Forest, it was a day of frustration but also pride. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo acknowledged the gulf in class but praised his team's fighting spirit. "We gave everything. We had our moments, and against a team like Manchester City, that's not easy. The players can hold their heads high. We'll use this experience to grow."
What's next for Manchester City? With Liverpool having already secured the Premier League title after their thumping win over Spurs earlier today, City’s domestic ambitions now narrow down to securing their Champions League spot and lifting the FA Cup to cap off a challenging but resilient campaign. The final against Crystal Palace, set for May 17th, promises to be another showcase for Guardiola’s men to etch their names further into the history books.
If today was anything to go by, few would bet against them.
