Manchester City are currently undergoing a transitional period, which required both new and experienced players to stave off an unexpected FA Cup upset against Plymouth Argyle. The young academy graduate, Nico O’Reilly, emerged as a hero, scoring two headers, while the club’s most decorated outfield player, Kevin De Bruyne, sealed the victory, ending Plymouth’s resistance.
Despite their best efforts, Plymouth could not hold onto their surprising lead, even though they managed to take the advantage through Maksym Talovierov. However, a happy ending for the League One side never seemed likely. Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, had to work hard to overcome a well-organized Plymouth side, who will regret conceding two goals from set pieces.
With De Bruyne’s contract set to expire in the summer, the FA Cup might offer one of his final chances to add to his remarkable collection of 16 winner's medals with Manchester City, though he is expected to depart for the Club World Cup. De Bruyne, paired with Ilkay Gündogan in the midfield, still displayed his class despite his physical decline, providing crucial deliveries and constantly working to influence the game.
Pep Guardiola’s men struggled to reach their usual tempo, hindered by the disciplined Plymouth defense. The Pilgrims had previously made it this far with a notable 1-0 victory over Premier League leaders Liverpool, where they had just 25% possession. Early on in this match, Plymouth would have considered 25% possession a success. City dominated the ball and moved it around with precision, but Plymouth’s defense was difficult to break down.
As expected, Plymouth’s penalty box saw plenty of action, given their position near the bottom of the Championship and their tendency to concede goals (68 goals in 34 league matches). Conor Hazard, Plymouth's goalkeeper, was forced into action early on, making a smart save to deny a Gündogan header heading toward the bottom corner. However, Hazard could only watch as a shot from James McAtee crashed against the inside of the post, narrowly evading the net.
City were clearly on top, and it came as no surprise when Plymouth took the lead in the 38th minute. A well-delivered corner from Matthew Sorinola found Talovierov at the back post, and the defender rose above everyone else to power a header past Stefan Ortega. It was a shock, as this was just the third time this season that Plymouth had led away from home in any competition. The away supporters, numbering 7,800, celebrated wildly, briefly daring to dream of an upset.
However, taking the lead so early in the match may have been a mistake, given the amount of time left to play. City equalized in the dying seconds of the first half, with De Bruyne delivering a precise free-kick from 30 yards out. O’Reilly made a smart run and flicked the ball toward the far post. Hazard got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough, and the game was level. The celebrations were somewhat muted, but the momentum had shifted in City’s favor.
Plymouth's head coach, Miron Muslic, expressed his pride in the team's performance, despite the result. “We gave Manchester City a proper game,” Muslic said. “They are one of the best teams in the world with the best coach in the world. We did well, but it’s a bit of a pity we conceded with the final touch of the first half.”
To further add to Plymouth’s woes, Erling Haaland was introduced before the hour mark, signaling that Guardiola was eager to secure a victory. Haaland, alongside Bernardo Silva, missed two golden opportunities in quick succession from inside the six-yard box, but Hazard continued to make key saves to deny City the lead. However, the breakthrough finally came from a corner, as O’Reilly, playing out of position as a makeshift left-back, rose to head home his second goal of the match. It calmed the nerves of City’s fans and gave them a two-goal cushion.
O’Reilly’s performances have not gone unnoticed, as Chelsea reportedly showed interest in signing him during the winter transfer window. Guardiola’s decision to keep him at the club is clearly paying off, with O’Reilly’s two-goal heroics playing a significant role in Manchester City's progression in
the competition.
0 comments:
Post a Comment