A young boy eagerly stepped onto a train in Stockport with his father and his dad’s friend on a recent Saturday morning. At the subsequent stop in Wilmslow, another companion joined them, sparking a curious conversation with the boy, who appeared no older than seven, about the thrilling surprise of Wembley tickets.

It turned out the lad had started piecing together the clues of a prospective London adventure earlier in the week, catching whispers at home. As he chatted about the day’s forthcoming excitement, his eyes sparkled with the innocent thrill familiar to anyone who has ever anticipated a big football match.

This journey marked his first experience watching Manchester City play at Wembley and his inaugural trip to the bustling capital. Although City has graced Wembley 33 times since their memorable FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United 15 years ago, each visit is a new chapter for someone.

While days like these may become less frequent once Guardiola moves on, this particular memory is likely to stick with the boy. It was a nail-biting encounter against a Championship team that had sensationally ousted Arsenal in the quarter-finals. The afternoon’s tension reached its peak in the game’s closing stages.

City found themselves trailing after a ferocious strike from Finn Azaz, but with just 11 minutes remaining, substitute Jeremy Doku turned the game around within three minutes of his introduction.

Nico Gonzalez scored a stunning goal from range to send Man City into a fourth straight FA Cup final

Pep Guardiola’s side fell behind against Southampton but struck twice late for a 2-1 victory

There was still drama to unfold as Nico Gonzalez, a player yet to fully win over Guardiola, clinched the victory with a spectacular 25-yard goal with only three minutes left. The thrilling finish had captain Bernardo Silva channeling the exuberance of football legend Nobby Stiles. The domestic Treble remains within City’s grasp, a testament to their resilience, even if this was expected to be a straightforward path to a record fourth consecutive final.

Southampton were stumbling out of the Premier League this time last year with a measly 12 points, started this season horrendously, but are upwardly mobile. It feels a club reborn, palpable excitement at what Tonda Eckert has built since his appointment in November. City goals were a deflection off Tom Fellows and then a wonder hit. Not a great deal Eckert could plan for, there.

But plan he had. Expertly so. At one point, Guardiola stood with hands raised to head as John Stones – midway into Southampton’s half – surveyed the scene ahead of him. Tight, compact, no real passing lines and a back six who were adept at jumping from position to nick quick ball.

Stones attempted to break the first line, which can only have been eight or nine yards, between the opposition defence and their midfield. It required the surgical precision of 2023 Stones, the roving Stones, not the somewhat rusty ‘26 version who has featured in one game since Valentine’s Day.

The move broke down, as many did in an attritional first half that only served to highlight a chasm between City’s preferred team, playing alongside each other every week and in a smooth groove, and throwing together the current second string, all of whom are shy on match minutes.

Some of them, a profligate Omar Marmoush included, did their chances absolutely no good whatsoever. For that, 33-year-old Eckert deserves credit. A back six out of possession but a slight tweak on the low blocks that City have faced so many times across Guardiola’s tenure.

Rather than both wingers filling in as extra full backs, Eckert only used one to perform that dual role. Fellows dropped back to take care of Rayan Ait-Nouri’s progressive runs. And instead of Leo Scienza following suit on the other side, central midfielder Caspar Jander became a defender instead.

What Southampton gained from that decision is Scienza’s threat on the break, loitering menacingly, playing cat and mouse with City’s right back Matheus Nunes. Indeed, Scienza – the Brazilian who once slept on a basement floor while struggling in the Swedish fifth division – stroked past James Trafford early on, only to be ruled offside. The Saints end did not realise for a good 30 seconds, still jumping deliriously when the semi-final had restarted.

Finn Azaz scored a stunning opener for Southampton to threaten another FA Cup upset

The Championship side celebrated with the goal putting them 10 minutes away from the final

Jeremy Doku’s equalised for Man City just 180 seconds after they had fallen behind

There felt an air of optimism from a fanbase largely made up of those who had not been around for their only FA Cup trophy in 1976, when Manchester United were downed.

Each tackle was roared, every headed applauded. Jander knocking Phil Foden off his stride, Nathan Ake needing to throw himself at Fellows as he galloped clear. Guardiola’s team, narrow themselves, appeared to be cancelled out by a side whose unbeaten run beforehand stood at 20, dating back to mid-January. On current form, this could well become a league fixture again in a few months.

Tight and cagey, bordering boring, cameras panned to a couple of City supporters who had drifted off in the north London sun. Guardiola demanded a response from his players, Marmoush courageously foiled by ex-defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the last and Ait-Nouri finding more room on the left.

Too often City chose the wrong final ball or didn’t inject energy with enough purpose. A superstitious Guardiola will have noted that Southampton dramatically halted the 2023 Quadruple, Nathan Jones inexplicably knocking them out of the Carabao Cup.

As Foden wrapped his foot around an effort to balloon into the stands, Guardiola visibly recoiled and immediately sent for both Doku and Savinho.

That shot had been Foden’s last act and he is highly unlikely to now start any further games before Thomas Tuchel names England’s squad for the World Cup. The drop off in form and confidence since Christmas has been staggering.

Peretz stopped a Savinho effort, while seconds later Guardiola was running in James Trafford’s direction to hail his intervention as Southampton broke dangerously. A game of football had broken out which must have at least awoken sleeping supporters up – only for TV cameras to pan to a snoozing man of a Saints persuasion.

Guardiola sent for Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly, a decision he would rather not have had to make. Then the unthinkable. Azaz span and smashed past a despairing Trafford, only for Doku to dribble across Southampton’s box, creeping in via a Fellows deflection.

Still time. Three minutes left, Gonzalez fancied it. Fancied it and thundered it, the net almost blown off its hinges. Memories, but not how you might have first envisaged.