Manchester City booked their place in the final of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday.
Rice Lewis ensured Pep Guardiola‘s side made the perfect start tot he game as he found the bottom corner from the edge of the area after just two minutes.
Josko Gvardiol doubled the lead shortly after half-time before City had to ride their luck as Forest hit the woodwork three times.
Morgan Gibbs-White hit the crossbar and then the post before Taiwo Awoniyi struck the City upright.
City will now feature in the final of the tournament for the third season in a row.
And Mail Sport’s Tom TOM COLLOMOSSE was at Old Trafford to judge Ruben Amorim‘s side on an unforgettable night…
Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday to reach the final of the FA Cup
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2)
Matz Sels – 7
He made three impressive stops in quick succession early in the second but could do very little about either of the goals. An outstanding season for the Belgian.
Zach Abbott – 7
On only his second senior start, the 18-year-old played diligently at right-back and was relieved not to concede a penalty when Kovacic’s shot hit his hand. An encouraging display.
Nikola Milenkovic – 6
With nobody to mark, the Serbian did not look himself early on and struggled to find his rhythm before regaining his composure after the break.
Murillo – 6.5
Kept the Forest dam from bursting completely in the early stages with a number of important interventions but was outjumped by Gvardiol for the goal.
Harry Toffolo – 5.5
Might have closed down Lewis better for the first goal and struggled to contain Nunes and Savinho down his side, though he had little assistance.
Morgan Gibbs-White – 7
Needs to be in the middle – not on the right – to produce his best. When he was, he hit the bar with a stunning left-foot volley and later the post.
Nicolas Dominguez – 6
Could not get to grips with what was effectively four against two in the middle of the park in City’s favour in the first half. A couple of decent passes after the interval.
Danilo – 5
Not always a regular this season and this was a tough task for the Brazilian against City’s fluid midfield. Replaced at half-time by Elanga.
Elliot Anderson – 5
Stationed initially on the left, he let Lewis run free for the opener and struggled to support Toffolo when City attacked down their right. Replaced by Sangare.
Chris Wood – 5
Perhaps Forest’s top scorer is still working his way back to full fitness but he had very little service in either the first half of the second. Replaced by Awoniyi.
Callum Hudson-Odoi 5
Playing alongside Wood instead of out wide, he lost possession five times and was caught offside twice in the first half. Not his day at all.
Callum Hudson-Odoi had little impact as Forest failed to secure a place in the final
SUBSTITUTES
Anthony Elanga – 6.5 (for Danilo, 46min)
Introduced for the second half in place of Danilo and missed a glorious chance to equalise within a minute, but his pace made a difference and he should have started.
Taiwo Awoniyi – 6 (for Wood, 71)
Ibrahim Sangare – 6 (for Anderson, 71)
Jota Silva – 6 (for Dominguez, 82)
Ramon Sosa – 6 (for Abbott, 82)
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 5
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-4)
Stefan Ortega – 6
Hard to conclude much from his first-half display as he had barely anything to do. Had to thank the frame of his goal three times in the second.
Matheus Nunes – 6.5
Powerful moving forward from right-back and had the upper hand on Anderson in their first-half duel. Was lucky to find Hudson-Odoi having an off day.
Ruben Dias – 7
The City skipper looked in complete control in the opening 45 minutes, just like his team. Tougher for him after the break but he held up as expected.
Josko Gvardiol – 7
His partnership with Dias in the centre looks increasingly impressive and his header for the second goal showed his threat in both boxes. Lucky to get away with a blunder that saw Gibbs-White hit the post.
Josko Gvardiol (right) was impressive at the back for City alongside team-mate Ruben Dias
Nico O’Reilly – 6.5
Brimming with confidence, the young left-back drifted inside to pull off two Zidane turns in the first half, as well as keeping Gibbs-White at arm’s length. Found it tougher against Elanga.
Bernardo Silva – 7
Did not try as many ambitious passes as Kovacic in the first half but played very smoothly in a deep midfield role. Though he tired after the break, he is still a top-class operator.
Mateo Kovacic – 8
Alongside Silva, the Croatian ran the show at times in the first half and provided the assist for Lewis’ goal. A fine all-round midfield display from one of the best in the business.
Savinho – 6.5
Did not take on his full-back as often as he sometimes does but formed an impressive combination with Nunes and always kept Forest on their toes.
Rico Lewis – 7
Left all alone on the edge of the box to give City the lead and seemed to thrive in his advanced midfield/false nine role.
Jack Grealish – 6
Mature display in the first half, when he carried out his tactical role well and kept the ball moving alongside Lewis. Booked for a high challenge on Gibbs-White. Replaced by Gundogan
Omar Marmoush – 6.5
Up against such an experienced opponent in Abbott, he might have been expected to make a greater impact though he did deliver the corner for the second goal.
SUBSTITUTES
Ilkay Gundogan 6 (for Grealish, 71)
Phil Foden 6 (for Savinho, 81)
Jeremy Doku – 6 (for Marmoush, 81)
Nico Gonzalez 6 (for Kovacic, 89)
Manager: Pep Guardiola 7
Referee: Michael Oliver 7