González screamer puts Man City in FA Cup final

Manchester City produced a dramatic late fightback to reach their fourth successive FA Cup final with a remarkable 2-1 win over Championship Southampton.

>A slow-burner of a semifinal came alive as Finn Azaz put Saints on course for a shock Wembley win when he curled home a sublime goal with 11 minutes remaining.

>Yet that served only to spark City into action and substitute Jérémy Doku quickly equalised with a deflected strike before Nico González won it with an 87th-minute piledriver.

>For a few minutes Southampton dreamt of emulating their 1976 cup heroes by booking a return to the final on the 50th anniversary of that triumph but it was City's treble quest that remained alive.

>City won the Carabao Cup on their previous visit to the national stadium last month and they will return in May to play Leeds or Chelsea for another trophy.

>In the meantime they will refocus on Premier League action, hoping to keep the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table.

>Mindful of their title bid, City made eight changes from the side that won at Burnley in midweek and looked rusty as a result.

>That did not stop them almost making a perfect start as Tijjani Reijnders had a shot pushed onto a post by Daniel Peretz and Phil Foden's follow-up was hooked off the line, but the flag was raised.

>Southampton were also denied by an offside flag after Leo Scienza broke clear and passed the ball into the net.

>City struggled to break down a disciplined Southampton but further chances came and went as Mateo Kovacic, making his first start of the season, shot wide and Peretz saved with his feet from Omar Marmoush.

>Southampton carried a threat on the break but Nathan Aké made a good recovery tackle to block Tom Fellows. Ross Stewart got a sight of goal but James Trafford saved comfortably.

>It was another frustrating afternoon for the out-of-sorts Foden, summed up when he blasted well over and was taken off just before the hour.

>Kovacic also made way as Pep Guardiola injected some urgency by sending on Savinho and Doku.

>Savinho was quickly into the action and tested Peretz while Marmoush could not convert a dangerous ball from Rayan Cherki.

>City summoned further reinforcements in Erling Haaland and Nico O'Reilly and, in a flurry of chances, González, Cherki and Reijnders all went close.

>Just when a City goal was beginning to feel inevitable, Azaz stunned them against the run of play.

>Receiving the ball outside the area from a Kuryu Matsuki pass, the Republic of Ireland international spun 180 degrees before curling a shot past Trafford.

>It was undoubtedly a moment to savour but Saints hopes were quickly killed off as City replied instantly.

>Doku did the damage as he worked his way across the edge of the area before unleashing a shot that deflected in off James Bree.

>Within moments City were celebrating again as Southampton were again pegged back and González rifled a ferocious shot into the top corner.

>City almost snatched another as Saints pushed up late on but Savinho's effort was cleared off the line.