Manchester City secured their place in a third consecutive FA Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday.
The win keeps alive City's hopes of avoiding a rare trophyless season under Pep Guardiola's leadership.
Despite enduring what many consider their worst season since Guardiola's arrival, the champions delivered a professional performance when it mattered most.
The result gives City a chance to salvage silverware from a campaign that has fallen short of their usual lofty standards.
Josko Gvardiol doubled Man City's lead against Forest
Reuters
Rico Lewis handed City the perfect start, finding the net inside two minutes after being fed by the influential Mateo Kovacic.
The young defender was afforded time and space to fire into the bottom corner, immediately silencing the Forest supporters.
After the interval, Josko Gvardiol doubled City's advantage, nodding home from a corner five minutes after Forest had squandered a golden opportunity.
The Croatian defender's header effectively sealed the result for Guardiola's men, who controlled proceedings with their trademark composure.
Forest will rue their missed opportunities to get back into the match.
The halftime introduction of Anthony Elanga nearly changed the complexion of the tie, but he scuffed Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross wide with his very first touch.
City punished the miss just five minutes later with Gvardiol's decisive header.
Forest came agonisingly close to pulling one back as Morgan Gibbs-White and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi both struck the woodwork.
Despite these near misses, City comfortably closed out the game to secure their place in next month's showpiece final.
Manchester City will now face Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley on May 17.
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Rico Lewis opened the scoring after just two minutes
Reuters
Palace earned their place in the showpiece event after an impressive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The final presents City with an opportunity to right their wrongs from last year when they were beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
For Palace, it represents a chance to upset the established order and claim one of English football's most prestigious trophies.
The match promises to be an intriguing contest between two sides with contrasting styles and ambitions.
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Nottingham Forest must now turn their attention solely to their Premier League campaign, where they remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side currently sit sixth in the table in what has developed into one of the most nail-biting races for Champions League football in recent memory.
The competition is remarkably tight, with just five points separating Newcastle in third from Aston Villa in seventh.
Forest will be determined to channel their Wembley disappointment into a strong league finish as they chase a historic top-five placement.
