However, a deflected Jeremy Doku goal and a Nico rocket saw City win today’s FA Cup semi-final.Pep Guardiola rotated his squad today as he made eight changes to the starting lineup that best Burnley 1-0. The City manager had spoke of the fact that fatigue had hit affected some players ahead of today’s match. He took the opportunity to rotate his players for today’s FA Cup semi-final.First half.Manchester City made a controlled start to the match.

City were excellent in possession in the opening five minutes as their passing play kept Southampton pinned in the game’s early stages. City created their first chance of the match in the fifth minute. After a prolonged spell of possession, Omar Marmoush was played in behind the Southampton defense.

Omar Marmoush played a ball from the right to Tijjani Reijnders, who had acres of room in the Southampton penalty area to shoot. Reijnders got a powerful shot in on goal that Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz tipped onto the post. However, Omar Marmoush had strayed offside in the buildup, but City’s first attacking foray was a warning to Southampton.Southampton had a goal ruled out for offside in the 12th minute.

Leo Scienza beat James Trafford with a composed finish after Southampton had won an aerial duel to set up their chance. However, the linesman’s flag was raised after the ball hit the back of the net to deny Tonda Eckert’s side a dream start to the match. Leo Scienza’s disallowed goal was a warning to Manchester City that Southampton weren’t at Wembley just for the occasion.Mateo Kovacic drove through the heart of the Southampton defence in the 19th minute.

The Croatian midfielder got himself into a great position and fizzed a dangerous ball across the Southampton penalty area. However, Kovacic’s ball had too much on it, and perhaps a more subtle ball from him would have provided Omar Marmoush with a tap-in.Southampton had grown into the game in the opening half-hour.As the game approached the half-hour mark, Southampton had grown into the match. Tonda Eckert’s side had enjoyed a good spell of possession.

They had also earned themselves a series of free kicks from dangerous positions that the Manchester City defence dealt with. To Southampton’s credit, they had grown into the match well after City dominated the early stages.Omar Marmoush was denied by Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz in the 34th minute. Mateo Kovacic played the Egyptian international in behind the Southampton defence with a quality ball.

Marmoush got a shot away from close range on the left-hand side of the Southampton penalty area with his left foot that Peretz kept out at his near post with a smart save.Matheus Nunes went down with an injury in the 40th minute. The Portuguese international received treatment for a couple minutes before the match resumed. Matheus Nunes’ condition was worth keeping an eye on for the remainder of the match.There were no more significant moments in the first half following Matheus Nunes’ injury concern.

At halftime, the game was delicately poised at nil-all. Manchester City had dominated possession but struggled to create any real openings. Southampton had defended resolutely and offered a threat on the break.

There was all to play for in the second half after an even first 45 minutes.For Manchester City, their first-half performance resembled that of a rusty side. That was understandable considering that the majority of the players who started the match haven’t played any meaningful minutes for some time. Mateo Kovacic was the standout City player of the first half, and Pep Guardiola’s side needed to lift in the second half to make their fourth consecutive FA Cup final.Second half.After both teams had half-chances immediately after halftime, Manchester City had a five-minute spell of dominance that resulted in a series of half-chances that came to nothing.

The best opportunity came in the 51st minute as Rayan Cherki played a teasing low cross across the Southampton six-yard box, but no City player was on hand to tap the ball in. Also, the threat of Omar Marmoush getting in behind was beginning to become a constant threat to Tonda Eckert’s side.Tijjani Reijnders curled a long-range effort just wide of the far post in the 58th minute. Reijnders was found in space on the left-hand side of the Southampton penalty area, and the Dutch international curled an effort just wide of the far post. Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz was stranded as the ball went inches wide.Omar Marmo