The Independent
·22 May 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Independent
·22 May 2024
Holders Manchester City will face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final for a second successive season on Saturday.
Here, the PA news agency looks at their route back to Wembley.
Phil Foden scored twice as City began their trophy defence with a routine win over the Championship side. Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku and a Ben Jackson own-goal completed the scoring, while Kevin De Bruyne set one up on his return from a long injury lay-off.
Nathan Ake grabbed an 88th-minute winner as City finally won a game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the sixth time of asking. The tie had appeared to be heading to a replay when the defender pounced from close range after Guglielmo Vicario failed to hold a De Bruyne corner.
Erling Haaland plundered five goals as City swept the Hatters aside at Kenilworth Road. De Bruyne weighed in with four assists while Mateo Kovacic claimed the other goal. Jordan Clark’s double briefly gave Luton hope at 3-2 early in the second half but ultimately City were far too strong.
Bernardo Silva scored both goals in the first half as City made easy work of Newcastle in the rain at the Etihad Stadium. Both goals came with the aid of deflections but there was no doubting City’s superiority, with the home side enjoying 72 per cent possession.
Silva bounced back from the disappointment of missing in the Champions League penalty shoot-out loss to Real Madrid three days earlier with the late winner at Wembley. The Portuguese turned in six minutes from time to punish a wasteful Chelsea, for whom Nicolas Jackson had spurned several chances.