Man City overpower Southampton to reach FA Cup semis

Manchester City roll into the FA Cup semi-finals after an efficient second-half display as they beat Southampton 4-1 at St Mary’s Stadium.

Action: Raheem Sterling got Man City off to a perfect start at St. Mary's, when Gabriel Jesus intercepted Jack Stephens' poor clearance before laying the ball off to Sterling inside the box, with the England international giving no chance to Fraser Forster.

City could of doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark, as Ilkay Gundogan smacked the post from just a few yards out after tremendous work from Joao Cancelo.

The Saints levelled the game in first-half stoppage time, when Aymeric Laporte flicked Mohammed Elyounoussi’s cross into his own net.

Man City got back in front of the game halfway through the second half, when Kevin De Bruyne converted a penalty after Gabriel Jesus went down in the Southampton box after a nudge in the back from Mohammed Salisu.

Phil Foden added City’s third in the 75th minute, with an outstanding finish from the edge of the box.

Just three minutes later, Riyad Mahrez ended any Saints' hopes of reaching the semi-finals, adding the fourth with a superb low finish at the near post.

Big Picture: The result means City remain on their hunt for the treble as they are in both Champions League and the FA Cup, as well as leading the Premier League.

Most of Pep Guardiola's players will head into their respective national teams, but this next couple of days might be useful for the Catalunian manager to prepare the next couple of games in real depth as we are heading into the closing stages of the season.

After the international week, Manchester City will travel to an always tough Burnley for the Premier League and then will host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of Champions League quarter-finals.

Southampton will visit relegation threatened Leeds.

xG: Southampton (1.07) 1-4 (3.01) Man City

Stat of the Day: Man City have scored 4+ goals in a single match for the 80th time under Pep Guardiola in all competitions. The next most such games by an English club in this time is Liverpool’s 58.

𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱: Top 🗑@PhilFoden scores a beauty!@ManCity #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/qHeIDcHoZk

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022