Defeating "dark horse" Nottingham Forest, Man City enters FA Cup final for third consecutive season

(NLDO) – Nottingham Forest's adventure in the FA Cup this season has come to an end after their expected defeat against Man City in the semi-finals.

While many spectators had yet to find their seats at Wembley Stadium, Man City scored against Nottingham Forest in the 2nd minute.

In the attacking phase of the blue team, Mateo Kovacic quietly ran into the middle, attracted Nottingham Forest's defenders and then passed the ball to Rico Lewis.

From close to the penalty area line, the young English player slowed the ball down and then fired a low shot, hitting the ball into the corner of goalkeeper Matz Sels' net.

Rico Lewis scored just seconds after the ball started rolling.

With an early goal, Man City confidently controlled the game and for most of the first half, the ball almost only rolled on Nottingham Forest's field.

However, there were not many opportunities for Pep Guardiola's players to score and widen the gap. On the other side of the field, Nottingham Forest also did not create any dangerous attacks in the first half of the match.

Man City leisurely played football after the opening goal

After the break, coach Nuno Santo sent Anthony Elanga onto the field and the former Man United player almost equalized after a favorable assist from Hudson Odoi.

Failing to take advantage of this rare opportunity, Nottingham Forest continued to pay the price. In the 51st minute, from Omar Marmoush's corner kick, defender Josko Gvardiol jumped high to head the ball in. 2-0 for Man City.

Josko Gvardiol (24) jumped high to head in the second goal for Man City

It was a bad day for Nottingham Forest strikers, after Elanga Morgan Gibbs-White had a volley that hit the crossbar, then another hit the post. Awoniyi also had a shot that hit the Man City goal.

Forest missed the FA Cup final after 34 years of waiting

The 2-0 score remained until the end of the match and Man City won the right to participate in the FA Cup final for the third year in a row after both times facing Man United.

Pep Guardiola's team will face Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley on May 17. The Eagles defeated Aston Villa 3-0 in the first semi-final.

This is the 14th time Man City has participated in the FA Cup final and if successful, "The Citizens" will catch up with the achievement of eight titles won by Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Arsenal (14 times) and Man Utd (13 times) are the two most successful teams in this arena that is more than a century old.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ha-ngua-o-nottingham-forest-man-city-vao-chung-ket-fa-cup-ba-mua-lien-tiep-196250428060210835.htm