Manchester City sealed their place in a third successive FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Wembley, driven by standout performances from Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol.
Pep Guardiola’s side made an immediate impact when Lewis struck from the edge of the area in the second minute.
Josko Gvardiol then extended City’s lead early in the second half, heading home from a corner.
Guardiola surprised many by leaving Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, a move that paid off as Kovacic dictated play throughout the match.
Forest struggled to create opportunities but nearly equalized after halftime when Anthony Elanga missed a clear chance.
City quickly regained control, culminating in Gvardiol’s decisive header after a controversial handball appeal was waved away.
Forest came close to narrowing the deficit when Morgan Gibbs-White struck the crossbar and later hit the post following a defensive error from Gvardiol.
Despite Forest’s late pressure, City’s victory rarely looked in doubt.
City will face Crystal Palace in the final next month, aiming to lift the FA Cup for the eighth time.
