Manchester City Beat Southampton 2-1 in FA Cup Semi-Final to Reach Fourth Consecutive Final

Southampton’s FA Cup campaign came to a devastating end on April 25, 2026, as Manchester City mounted a dramatic comeback to win 2-1 in the semi-final and reach their fourth consecutive FA Cup final.

The match appeared to be heading in Southampton’s favour after the Saints had taken the lead, but City produced a stunning finale with three goals scored across just eight minutes of action. The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when Spanish midfielder Nico González struck a spectacular winner from 30 yards out.

The goal originated from Manchester City’s bench impact, with Bernardo Silva, who had only just been introduced by Pep Guardiola, playing a crucial role in the build-up. Silva found Jérémy Doku, who then fed the ball to González positioned outside Southampton’s penalty area on the left side.

González unleashed a rising shot from approximately 30 yards that rocketed into the net, leaving Southampton’s players and supporters heartbroken after they had briefly held the advantage in the semi-final.

The defeat represents a cruel end to what had been an impressive FA Cup run for Southampton, with the team having shown they could compete at the highest level against the reigning Premier League champions. The manner of the loss will be particularly difficult to accept, given how close the Saints came to reaching their first FA Cup final since 2003.

Manchester City’s victory extends their remarkable FA Cup dominance, as they now prepare for a fourth straight final appearance. For Southampton, attention will turn to their remaining fixtures and building on the positive aspects of a campaign that saw them reach the semi-final stage of English football’s oldest national competition.