Lewis 'over the moon' after FA Cup semi-final goal | OneFootball

Rico Lewis was overjoyed after his early goal at Wembley set City on the road to a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Academy graduate found the bottom corner superbly from 18 yards after just two minutes, before Josko Gvardiol headed us further ahead shortly after the interval.

Forest showed great determination to get back into the game and struck the woodwork thrice in quick succession.

Morgan Gibbs-White volleyed onto the crossbar from the edge of the 18-yard box, before he then clipped the post after rounding Stefan Ortega Moreno, with Taiwo Awoniyi also crashing an effort off the same left post.

MATCH GALLERY: LEWIS AND GVARDIOL STRIKE AT WEMBLEY!

We remained resolute to preserve a clean sheet and advance into our third consecutive FA Cup final, the first time we've achieved such a feat, where we will face fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace.

"Obviously I’m over the moon with my goal," he began in his post-match interview at Wembley.

"It’s just a position that I like to play, it’s different to playing as a full-back and then coming inside, you know, you’re always inside.

Today was a tough game, but you know we showed a kind of different side to our game where we can survive and get through it at the end.

"We’ve got so many players in midfield that can have the ball. Kovacic and Bernardo as the two number sixes are so good, they can keep the ball anywhere. That allows the front men to have more freedom. I think that was the main thing today."

Pep Guardiola's men are now unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions, winning six on the way, and 20-year-old Lewis believes the character of the squad is shining through.

"Like today we’ve showed character, I think this season we’ve shown character. It’s not been smooth sailing for us," he declared.

"But I think we’ve picked ourselves up with the injuries we’ve had at the start and throughout the season.

"And we’ve shown we’re a top team with top players and can get through tough situations."