Nottingham Forest’s fairy-tale run towards FA Cup glory was cut short by Manchester City, who showcased their relentless quality in a 2-0 semi-final win at Wembley. What many Forest fans had hoped would be a historic chapter under Nuno Espírito Santo ended in heartbreak, while City, ruthless as ever, booked their place in the final against Crystal Palace.
City struck early through Rico Lewis, who drilled home from the edge of the box in just the second minute after fine work from Mateo Kovacic. Forest struggled to cope with City’s passing game, and despite a spirited second-half performance, Josko Gvardiol’s powerful header after a corner early in the second period effectively ended the contest.
Forest, however, can reflect on a game of fine margins. Anthony Elanga missed a golden chance to level the tie shortly after the break, side-footing wide from close range. Morgan Gibbs-White twice rattled the woodwork – once with a spectacular volley, then again after rounding City’s goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Taiwo Awoniyi also struck the post late on, summing up Forest’s afternoon of frustration.
For City, it was business as usual. Pep Guardiola’s side are into their seventh consecutive FA Cup final under his leadership, closing in on the manager’s 19th major trophy with the club. They were dominant in possession throughout, suffocating Forest with their passing rhythm and sharp movement, particularly in a one-sided first half where Forest barely registered an attack.
City’s flexibility in attack caught Forest off guard, with Jack Grealish and Lewis operating centrally behind Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic, while Savinho and Omar Marmoush stretched play wide. Meanwhile, Forest’s youthful full-backs, including 18-year-old Zach Abbott, faced an unforgiving test against the Premier League champions.
Despite the loss, Forest can take pride in their resilience. They battled until the final whistle, creating several late opportunities that could have turned the match on its head. In the end, City’s clinical edge proved the difference, but Forest’s efforts were warmly applauded by their travelling supporters, who packed Wembley and kept the atmosphere alive throughout.
Guardiola’s side will now meet Crystal Palace in the final, aiming to add another piece of silverware to their growing collection. Forest, meanwhile, must shift their focus back to securing Premier League survival, but can take plenty of positives from an FA Cup run that rekindled memories of the club’s glory days.
