Manchester, UK – Manchester City survived a major scare against Plymouth Argyle to win 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match was a tale of two contrasting styles, with City’s possession-based football pitted against Plymouth’s direct and physical approach.
The visitors, who are second bottom of the Championship, stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd when they took the lead in the fifth minute through a towering header from Makysm ‘Maxi’ Talovyerov. The goal was a testament to Plymouth’s set-piece prowess, which has been a hallmark of their FA Cup run this season.
However, City eventually found their rhythm, and it was the veteran Belgian Kevin De Bruyne who pulled the strings. De Bruyne’s pinpoint delivery from a free-kick allowed 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly to nod City level on the stroke of half-time. The goal was a welcome relief for City, who had been struggling to break down Plymouth’s stubborn defense.
The second half was a more one-sided affair, with City dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities. De Bruyne and O’Reilly repeated their double act in the 76th minute, this time from a corner, to put City in front. De Bruyne’s delivery was once again impeccable, and O’Reilly’s header was precise and powerful.
City sealed the win in the 88th minute when De Bruyne slid in to score a late third goal. The goal was a fitting reward for De Bruyne’s outstanding performance, which had been the catalyst for City’s victory.
Plymouth’s FA Cup run may have come to an end, but they can take pride in their performance against one of the top teams in the country. The visitors’ resurgence under new coach Miron Muslic has been impressive, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in their Championship campaign.
For City, the win marks their eighth FA Cup quarter-final appearance in nine seasons. They will be looking to go all the way in the competition, but they will face stiff competition from other top teams in the country.
Source: Africa Publicity
Have a press release, feature, article for publication? Send it to us via Whatsapp on +233543452542.
