Manchester City ends Nottingham Forest's fairytale run, eyes FA Cup redemption

The FA Cup semi-final clash at the iconic Wembley Stadium was laden with narrative weight, representing a collision of contrasting ambitions and season trajectories. For Nottingham Forest, under the inspired guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, the 2024-2025 season has been nothing short of a fairytale, particularly their strong performance in the Premier League. Having established themselves as a competitive force after promotion, they have defied expectations and found themselves in a genuine battle for a coveted top-five finish and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Entering this semi-final, Forest sat remarkably in sixth place in the Premier League table with 60 points from 33 games, breathing down the necks of Chelsea (5th, 60 points), Manchester City (4th, 61 points), and Newcastle United (3rd, 62 points), all of whom had played 34 games in the 38-game season. An FA Cup triumph would have been the ultimate "cherry on top" for their already exceptional campaign.

Conversely, for Manchester City, a club accustomed to challenging for every major honour, the season had been marked by unexpected stumbles and a sense of underachievement in certain competitions. While still in contention for a top-five league finish (currently 4th), the consistency and dominance expected from Pep Guardiola's side had at times been absent. The FA Cup therefore represented a significant opportunity for redemption, a chance to secure a major trophy and provide a positive slant on what, by their stratospheric standards, had been a somewhat bitter season.

City wasted no time!

The match itself, though ultimately decided by a two-goal margin, was a contest of determined wills and agonizing near misses. Manchester City wasted no time in asserting their presence, taking an early lead in just the second minute through Rico Lewis. The young midfielder's goal, a low drive struck across Matz Sels after receiving a pass drilled through the legs of Forest's Danilo, provided City with the perfect platform and immediately disrupted any romantic script the underdogs might have envisioned.

Guardiola's initial tactical setup, featuring players in slightly adjusted roles, seemed to catch Forest off guard, allowing City to establish a vice-like grip on possession throughout the first half. The half-time statistics painted a grim picture for Forest, showing only 24% possession and no shots on target, highlighting City's suffocating control.

Despite the first-half dominance, Forest re-emerged after the break with renewed purpose and a tactical tweak from Nuno, introducing Anthony Elanga. This change almost yielded an immediate, dramatic equalizer when Elanga found himself with a clear opportunity from a Callum Hudson-Odoi cross but side-footed wide from close range – a glaring miss that would prove costly. Just moments later, in the 51st minute, Manchester City delivered what felt like the decisive blow. From a corner delivered by Omar Marmoush, the towering figure of Josko Gvardiol rose imperiously to power a header into the net, doubling City's advantage and giving them a commanding 2-0 lead.

Big chances, big misses...

Yet, Nottingham Forest showcased the unyielding spirit that has been the hallmark of their fairytale season. They continued to fight, creating opportunities that were cruelly thwarted by the frame of the goal. Morgan Gibbs-White was particularly unlucky, first unleashing a thunderous volley that crashed against the crossbar and later, after skillfully rounding the goalkeeper, seeing his shot rebound off the post from a tight angle. The woodwork agony was completed by substitute Taiwo Awoniyi, who also hit the same upright, before Gibbs-White's follow-up header was expertly saved by Stefan Ortega. These moments underscored the fine margins that often decide such high-stakes encounters and deepened the sense of what might have been for the Forest faithful.

The contrast in the clubs' Wembley history was palpable. For many Forest fans, this trip was a rare and treasured occasion, their first FA Cup semi-final appearance in a generation, following their Championship playoff win in 2022. For Manchester City under Guardiola, it was their eleventh appearance at Wembley in the FA Cup alone, reaching their seventh consecutive semi-final and third successive final – a testament to their sustained elite performance. While the City end might have featured some empty seats, those present witnessed their team professionally navigate a tricky tie.

Ultimately, Manchester City's quality and clinical edge, coupled with Forest's agonizing lack of luck in front of goal, determined the outcome. City advanced to face Crystal Palace in the final, keeping alive their hopes of securing a trophy to add a positive note to their season.

For Nottingham Forest, the FA Cup dream ended at Wembley, but their focus will immediately shift back to the intense Premier League battle for a top-five finish and that coveted Champions League spot, a pursuit that remains very much alive and would represent an extraordinary achievement in itself. Despite the semi-final defeat, Forest's remarkable season under Nuno Espírito Santo continues, defined by their spirit and their challenge for European football.