MANCHESTER CITY have taken the lead inside TWO minutes in this mouthwatering FA Cup semi-final tie against Nottingham Forest.
A lot of the focus before kick-off surrounded 18-year-old Zach Abott who is making his full debut for Nuno’s side.
However, Forest fell behind inside TWO minutes courtesy of a sublime strike by Man City teen Rico Lewis.
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- Nottingham Forest starting XI: Sels; Toffolo, Milenkovic, Murillo, Abbott; Dominguez, Oliveira; Gibbs-White, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
- Man City starting XI: Ortega Moreno; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Savinho, Grealish; Marmoush
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33 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Bit better for Forest who play direct through the middle of the park.
Hudson-Odoi is then slipped in down the right and he slides a pass for Wood in the box but sensational last-ditch defending puts him off and prevents a certain goal.
The flag then does go up but it would’ve been tight…
30 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Milenkovic covers well when Savinho looked to get into the box in behind the defenders.
The Forest man sees his clearance hit off the winger and go behind for a goal kick, before he waves his hands looking for more from the Forest supporters.
The fans have given so much for over an hour and aren’t getting much to shout about from his teammates…
27 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
This would’ve been one of THEE Wembley goals to remember.
O’Reilly latches onto Gibbs-White and dispossesses him 15 yards inside the Forest half.
His close control and strength is superb to evade two challenges with Maradona-esque footwork before unleashing a rocket of an effort from 25 yards which bounces a couple of yards wide.
24 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Set piece for Forest this time as they’re enjoying a couple of minutes up the park, and a chance to get the big boys up.
It’s wide on the left and about 45 yards from goal, when it’s clipped into the area for the team in red to attack.
Until, the linesman’s flag goes up for offside. Dearie me.
Lloyd Canfield at Wembley Stadium
Forest are slowly settling here.
After what was a chaotic start to say the least, Forest are starting to settle a bit and their fans are reacting accordingly.
The occasion may have been a little large for those players right from the off, but it seems like now they’re being a bit more patient on the ball which should pay dividends for them.
It’s all going to depend on that final ball now – in my view they’re missing Anthony Elanga big time so far, who is on the bench.
Anthony Elanga is on the bench for Forest vs Man CityCredit: Getty 22 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Nearly an opening for Forest for the first time this afternoon.
Anderson did look in an offside position when trying to bundle his way beyond the City defence but the defenders come out on top in any case.
19 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
They don’t really deal with that City corner initially and it’s only half cleared to Savinho out wide again.
His next delivery is a good one but nobody in sky blue meets it and Sels comes out to claim.
18 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Kovacic is man of the match already. EVERYTHING is going through him and he’s already twice won the ball high up the park for City.
Toffolo with an important tackle down his left side but at the expense of a corner.
15 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Another shot comes in on the Forest goal.
Having said that, it was more at the Forest fans.
Clever one-two between Marmoush and Grealish before the former strikes from 25 yards out but he’s a mile off target.
14 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
A rough 14 minutes for Forest to this point.
Although, they’ve had 1% possession for every minute played so far…
City with 86% possession in the opening quarter of an hour and I’m actually a tough surprised it’s not more.
12 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
The corner is dealt with as Sels punches it away but it’s coming straight back.
Marmoush has an effort from the corner of the area which is blocked and spins out to the City right where they win a free kick.
Again, the set piece is dealt with before it’s knocked to halfway and City’s players work hard to win it back almost immediately.
10 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
Kovacic running the show at the minute.
And he’s almost in for a second City goal, taking a sublime touch to beat two Forest players on the edge of the box and get nearer goal before Forest scramble and get the ball behind for a corner.
They look a complete bag of nerves back there.
Lloyd Canfield at Wembley Stadium
What a start that is.
Exactly what Man City needed, as it’s kicked their fans into gear and quietened down what were a ferocious Forest fanbase.
Forest have work to do now if they want to be playing in the final here…
Rico Lewis netted within two minutes for Manchester CityCredit: Getty 6 – Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City
No change since the goal as City knock the ball about for fun while Forest deploy their formation inside their own half.
City were almost in again down the right with Nunes but his attempted cross was blocked.
Nottm Forest 0-1 Man City – GOAL DETAIL
I was just about to say this game has started perfectly for both these sides; City with possession and Forest out of possession.
But that perfect start has been continued by City and it’s a nightmare for Forest.
The defending is absolutely horrific.
City are patient and Kovacic makes a darting ball through the middle, committing three Forest bodies when doing so.
He finds Rico Lewis inside the D at the edge of the box and he’s given time to take a touch and fire low and hard into the bottom corner.
So many red shirts there and nobody thinks to get close.
GOALLLL!!! Nottm Forest 0-1 MAN CITY
Inside two minutes and City are in front already!
RICO LEWIS with it!
KICK-OFF!
A spot in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace is up for grabs!
Nottm Forest vs Man City
Huddled
The City XI group into a huddle with Ruben Dias delivering an impassioned final speech.
Morgan Gibbs-White with the final message in the Forest huddle.
Ready to go…
Here they come
A steely look on the face of the 22 players – and indeed the 22 mascots – as they make their way out at Wembley.
The Forest tifo is unfurled just as they’re making their way out. Good stuff from both sets of supporters.
A really brilliant atmosphere. Let’s hope it delivers on the park too!
From Lloyd Canfield at Wembley Stadium
The Nottingham Forest fans have absolutely blown the Man City faithful out of the water here at Wembley.
To my left the stadium erupts at every mention of the word Nottingham, with almost every seat full, scarfs waving around and people singing as if they were using their final breaths.
To my right, the City fans seem apathetic.
This is their 28th visit here since the new Wembley was built, perhaps they’ve begun to take the importance of an occasion like this for granted.
As for Forest, this is just their second visit since the stadium was built – the previous being a play-off final vs Huddersfield in 2022.
I was sat here for the Carabao Cup final, where Newcastle’s atmosphere helped them beat champions elect Liverpool – and I’ve got a feeling we might see a similar story here today.
In the tunnel
A terrific noise from the fans in here, sky blue at one end and red on the other.
The noise coming from those in red, mainly as they outnumber their City opponents.
However, the Man City fans have unfurled a huge tifo behind the goals where they’re housed!
Enjoy
Nuno has urged his players to enjoy their ‘special occasion’ at Wembley afternoon.
He said: “You don’t have to shield them, it is impossible to shield a squad of players when there is so much information and when it is such a special occasion for us.
“We have to enjoy it, but we have to go as a group of players and staff to compete.
“That’s the best way to enjoy the semi final of the FA Cup, if you are focused and committed to compete.”
Warming up
It’s getting warm inside Wembley – on the pitch and off it!
The players are coming to the end of their warm-ups.
And the Forest fans – who’ve been in here for quite some time – are the ones making all the noise!
Match odds
City the warm, warm favourites to win the tie in 90 minutes here.
The value, almost certainly would be with Forest.
You just can’t ignore City in these situations though.
- Nottm Forest 15/4
- Draw 29/10
- Man City 13/20
How City line-up
A few surprise selections from Pep Guardiola as Jack Grealish is brought back into the starting 11.
The Spaniard has made two further changes from the side that beat Aston Villa on Tuesday with Rico Lewis and Savinho coming in for Iklay Gundogan and the suspended James McAtee.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
