Manchester City roared back into lethal form at just the right time to keep their treble bid alive. The Blues swept aside Southampton in the second half after a competitive opening 45 minutes to book yet another Wembley date.
Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty, Phil Foden's stunner and Riyad Mahrez’s 22nd of the season blew away the Saints after an Aymeric Laporte own goal had seen Southampton level Raheem Sterling’s opener. And, while winning the game was important, perhaps the fact that City rediscovered their touch in the final third - which was ordinary, bordering on ragged in goalless draws with Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace - was the biggest take from this game.
Now the City stars head off on international duty in good shape and poised for a trip to Burnley and then the week in which the destiny of the season could well be determined, as the title showdown with Liverpool is sandwiched by two Champions League quarter-final legs against Atletico Madrid. They needed to cut loose and find their fluency again, and they did it - noticeably once Foden and Mahrez had gone on as substitutes.
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Suddenly that old snap, swiftness and surety of passing was back, and the Saints could not live with it. And with Foden and Mahrez showing the rest how to finish, the Blues piled on the goals.
Setting aside the rout of the hapless Reds, City had not scored four times since the blitz of Sporting Lisbon on February 15, and lately they had started to look like a side that was letting it slip a little. That trend continued in the first half, when Southampton, buoyed by holding the Blues twice in the league, were always in the contest, causing plenty of problems and limited City's threat in front of goal.
The first real chance saw City carving the Saints open through Ilkay Gundogan, who delayed his pass and released Sterling, but the England man screwed his shot well wide. Play swiftly switched to the other end, where Oriol Romeu released Adam Armstrong and his shot beat Zack Steffen but rolled onto the post before City scrambled it clear.
De Bruyne drifting to the right was giving Saints problems, and that is where the opening goal originated. His cross was not great but it caught defender Jack Stephens on his heels, and when he made a hash of his attempted clearance, Gabriel Jesus pounced and slipped the ball to Sterling, who fired it home for his 14th of the season.
Armstrong scorned another decent chance but the City grip on the game got tighter as the half wore on and when Joao Cancelo feinted onto his stronger right foot and then turned onto his left, it freed the space for a whipped cross that Gundogan pushed onto the post from close range, Jesus unable to get the rebound on target.
Southampton were game enough to deserve something in the first half, and they got it with virtually the last kick of the 45 minutes, through an unfortunate Laporte.
Saints had dangerous runners right through the half and when Mohamed Elyounoussi beat the offside trap and was forced wide by Steffen’s dash out of goal, the midfielder swivelled quickly and crossed, the ball taking Laporte by surprise, cannoning off him and into the unguarded net.
City needed to step up at the start of the second half, but the snap and precision of their passing in the final third seems to have deserted them lately. And when Jack Grealish was presented with a decent chance, he unselfishly - and unwisely - tried to set up De Bruyne instead. Taken by surprise, the Belgian midfielder could only prod his shot and the chance was gone.
Pep Guardiola had already decided to make changes when City took the lead. Grealish had become a peripheral figure in the false nine role, and when he switched with Jesus it brought an instant dividend.
Chasing a pass down the channel, Jesus’ pace troubled Mohammed Salisu, to the point where he lunged and brought the Brazil star down. Saints did their best to delay the penalty and put pressure on De Bruyne, but his spot-kick was hard and true into the corner.
Saints were still in the game, and Steffen had to be sharp to deny Che Adams as they stormed forward again, but the Blues were a real danger on the counter.
And with 15 minutes left, the precision and snap that had been so lacking returned in spades, A sharp exchange of passes in a crowded space outside the box ended when De Bruyne worked the ball to sub Foden. He stepped to one side and arrowed his shot into the top corner.
The Blues were still not done. Another attack down the left saw Cancelo swing a gorgeous pass into the path of Gundogan, making a trademark dash from deep towards the penalty spot. With the defence quickly regrouping, he chested it, swivelled and played in Mahrez, who swept in his 22nd of the season.
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