Man City 2-1 Southampton Player Ratings: Jeremy Doku 9.0/10 Equaliser Sparks Dramatic City Comeback as Nico Gonzalez Wonder Strike Books FA Cup Final Place

For 79 minutes, Southampton were writing one of the greatest FA Cup stories in decades. A deeply rotated Manchester City side, missing Haaland, Doku, and Semenyo from the start, struggled for cohesion and cutting edge throughout a first half in which they generated just 0.27 xG against a Championship side that sat deep, pressed with intelligence, and defended with a collective organization that had Wembley Stadium genuinely believing an upset was possible.

Then Azaz produced the moment that made the dream feel real. Collecting Matsuki's low pass, the midfielder turned and curled a stunning finish past Trafford into the bottom-right corner in the 79th minute, a goal of pure quality that sent Southampton's travelling support into scenes of wild celebration and left the entire stadium holding its breath.

City responded with characteristic ruthlessness. Doku's deflected strike levelled in the 82nd minute, the ball clipping Bree before sneaking past Peretz, and Gonzalez, almost 30 yards from goal, hammered an unstoppable effort into the top-left corner five minutes later that gave Guardiola's side the lead they needed to book a record-extending fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance. Here are Sportsdunia's Man City vs Southampton player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Doku was the decisive impact substitute whose introduction completely transformed the contest, his deflected equaliser immediately after coming on ended Southampton's Wembley dream in the cruellest fashion, before his assist for Gonzalez's stunning winner confirmed his status as the player who made the difference when City needed it most.
• Azaz's 79th-minute wonder goal was the finest moment of the entire FA Cup semi-final weekend, a brilliantly executed curling finish from a Championship midfielder against one of Europe's most powerful clubs that deserved to win any match it was scored in and will be talked about for years regardless of the final outcome.
• City's ability to produce two stunning long-range strikes in the space of five minutes, from a position of real jeopardy, underlined why Guardiola's squad depth and individual quality make them almost impossible to beat even when they are heavily rotated and clearly below their very best for the vast majority of the contest.

Man City Player Ratings vs Southampton

Here are the Man City Player Ratings vs Southampton.

Goalkeeper

James Trafford - 6.5: Couldn't do anything about the superb goal he conceded. Made a crucial save from Kuryu Matsuki late in the game. His distribution was solid enough, completing 86% of his passes. He looked composed when called upon, especially during the frantic final minutes.

Defenders

John Stones - 7.5: A real captain's performance. He was a rock at the back, making 8 clearances. What stood out to us was his contribution going forward. He created a big chance and delivered three key passes. He led the defensive line with authority and composure.

Nathan Aké - 7.0: A very strong defensive display from the Dutchman. He won an impressive 6 of his 8 aerial duels. Made a crucial block and was instrumental in clearing danger. We noticed he lost possession a dozen times, which was a slight blemish. Overall, a highly reliable and solid outing.

Rayan Aït-Nouri - 7.0: Looked incredibly dangerous before his substitution. He was a constant threat with his dribbling, completing 6 successful runs. Created two chances, including one big one. From our perspective, his departure was a shame as he was causing real problems for the opposition.

Matheus Nunes - 6.5: An industrious but ultimately frustrating performance. He recovered the ball 8 times which shows his work rate. However, losing possession 18 times is simply too high at this level. He lacked the final product in attack and seemed a bit off the pace.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 7.5: A very influential display in the heart of midfield. He provided the crucial assist for City's equalizer. His passing was almost flawless, with a 96% completion rate. He orchestrated the play beautifully and was always looking to create. A top-class performance.

Mateo Kovacic - 7.0: Controlled the midfield well during his 58 minutes. His ability to retain possession under pressure was excellent. He recovered the ball 6 times and kept things ticking over. A solid, if unspectacular, performance before being substituted.

Rayan Cherki - 7.0: A mixed bag of a game for Cherki. He was a creative force, generating four key passes for his teammates. On the other hand, he took 5 shots with 4 of them being blocked. He lost possession 16 times, which hindered some attacks. Still, he was always trying to make something happen.

Nico González - 8.5: He scored a sensational winning goal to cap a magnificent performance. Beyond the goal, he was outstanding. He created three chances and his passing was precise. We thought he was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

Phil Foden - 6.5: A surprisingly quiet game by his lofty standards. He was neat on the ball but failed to create any significant chances. Had a couple of shots but never really threatened the goal. He was substituted before City really found their rhythm.

Forwards

Omar Marmoush - 6.0: It was a difficult afternoon for the attacker. He was caught offside twice and missed a big chance. He had 5 shots in total but only one tested the keeper. Seemed to struggle to get into the game and was eventually replaced.

Substitutes

Jérémy Doku - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. A game-changing substitution. He came on and completely turned the match on its head. Scored the vital equalizer with a fantastic strike. Then he provided the assist for the winning goal. An incredible and decisive impact from the bench.

Savinho - 6.5: Looked bright and direct after his introduction. Had one shot saved and added some energy to the attack.

Erling Haaland - 6.0: Didn't have much time to make his mark. The game was won shortly after he came on.

Reilly - N/A: Came on too late to receive a rating.

Bernardo Silva - N/A: Introduced in the final minutes to help see out the victory.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 7.5: His substitutions were absolutely perfect. Bringing on Jérémy Doku was a masterstroke that won his team the game. The team showed immense character to fight back from a losing position. His tactical tweaks paid off when it mattered most.

Southampton Player Ratings vs Man City

Check out the Southampton Player Ratings vs Man City.

Goalkeeper

Daniel Peretz - 6.5: Made three saves and could do little about either of City's stunning goals. His distribution was a major weakness, though. Completing only 39% of his passes put his team under unnecessary pressure. He looked a bit shaky on crosses.

Defenders

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 6.0: A tough afternoon for the captain against his parent club. He battled bravely, making 7 clearances. However, he committed several fouls and picked up a deserved yellow card. He was committed but struggled to contain City's dynamic attack.

James Bree - 5.5: Really struggled defensively. He lost possession 14 times and was dribbled past on two occasions. Offered very little going forward and was often caught out of position. It was a difficult day at the office for him.

Nathan Wood - 6.5: Southampton's best defender on the day. He made three crucial blocks and was very composed on the ball. His 94% pass accuracy under immense pressure was impressive. He read the game well and made some important interventions.

Tom Fellows - 5.0: A torrid time for the defender. From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch. Being dribbled past 8 times is a statistic that tells its own story. He was completely overwhelmed and offered little resistance.

Welington - 6.5: Was having a solid game before his unfortunate injury. He was diligent in his defensive duties, winning most of his duels. His departure was a blow to Southampton's defensive structure. He did well for the time he was on the pitch.

Midfielders

Finn Azaz - 7.5: Southampton's standout player. Scored a magnificent goal to give his side a shock lead. He was a creative spark, making two key passes. His work rate off the ball was also excellent. A fantastic performance that deserved more.

Leo Scienza - 6.0: He worked tirelessly but his final product was lacking. Lost possession a staggering 17 times. His crossing was erratic and he struggled to make a real impact. Full of effort but short on quality.

Caspar Jander - 6.5: A true midfield destroyer. He was everywhere, winning 8 duels and making 7 tackles. He did a fantastic job of breaking up City's play. His energy and tenacity were commendable throughout.

Cameron Bragg - 6.0: A quiet and steady performance in his 61 minutes. He kept his passing simple and didn't take any risks. He didn't offer much in an attacking or defensive sense. An average display before being substituted.

Forwards

Ross Stewart - 5.5: Had a thankless task leading the line. He was completely isolated and starved of service. Winning just 1 of his 11 aerial duels highlights his struggles. He was easily handled by City's central defenders.

Substitutes

Cyle Larin - 6.0: Brought on to offer a physical presence but had little impact.

Shea Charles - 6.0: Added fresh legs to the midfield but the tide had already turned.

Kuryu Matsuki - 6.5: Looked lively and forced a good save from Trafford shortly after coming on.

Cameron Archer - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to be rated.

Samuel Edozie - N/A: A late change with no time to influence the game.

Manager

Tonda Eckert - 6.5: His game plan was nearly perfect for 80 minutes. His side was organized, disciplined, and incredibly hard to break down. They were minutes away from a famous victory. The late collapse was heartbreaking, but he can be proud of his team's effort.

Man of the Match

Jeremy Doku was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Tom Fellows was the worst performer in the match.