Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup final for a record fourth consecutive time with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Southampton at Wembley on Saturday. 

Pep Guardiola’s side, who made eight changes to their lineup, were shocked late on when Finn Azaz fired Southampton ahead in the 79th minute with a brilliant finish — a result that would have handed the Championship club one of the great FA Cup upsets.

City, however, refused to buckle, with Jeremy Doku drawing them level four minutes later through a deflected effort that crept past goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.

Just as it seemed the tie was heading for extra time, Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez settled the contest in stunning fashion. The 22-year-old unleashed a thunderous strike from 30 yards in the 87th minute that flew into the net, sending the City end of Wembley into raptures and confirming their place in next month’s showpiece final. It was a moment of individual brilliance that papered over what had been a laboured performance from the reigning league leaders, who had dominated possession throughout without finding a way through for the majority of the match.

For Southampton, who reached Wembley having knocked out Arsenal in the quarter-finals, it was a heartbreaking exit that will nonetheless be remembered as one of the club’s finest cup runs in recent memory.

City, meanwhile, now have a remarkable treble in sight they lead the Premier League table and are in the Champions League semi-finals and will face either Chelsea or Leeds, who meet on Sunday, in the FA Cup final. For Guardiola, who rested key players including Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, the message was clear: the squad is deep, the hunger is there, and they are not done yet.