Etihad Stadium, Manchester – Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the eighth time in nine seasons after a hard-fought 3-1 victory against a spirited Plymouth Argyle side. The match, which saw a masterclass from Kevin De Bruyne and a breakout performance from teenage sensation Nico O’Reilly, was a tale of three set pieces that ultimately decided the tie.
Plymouth Argyle, currently second-bottom in the Championship and 39 places below City in the football pyramid, stunned the Etihad crowd early on. Centre-back Makysm ‘Maxi’ Talovyerov, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Erling Haaland, rose highest to head home from a corner in the fifth minute, sending the 8,000 traveling fans into raptures. The goal marked a dream start for the visitors, who had already pulled off giant-killing acts against Brentford and Liverpool earlier in the competition.
City, however, responded with their own set-piece prowess. On the stroke of half-time, 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly glanced a pinpoint Kevin De Bruyne free-kick past Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard to level the score. The goal was O’Reilly’s third in as many FA Cup appearances, further cementing his reputation as a rising star in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The second half was a one-sided affair, with City dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Rico Lewis, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and substitute Erling Haaland all missed clear opportunities to put the hosts ahead, as Plymouth’s defense held firm under relentless pressure.
The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute, when De Bruyne and O’Reilly combined once again, this time from a corner. O’Reilly’s powerful header found the back of the net, giving City the lead they had been searching for. De Bruyne then capped off a stellar individual performance by sliding in to score a late third in added time, sealing the victory and ensuring City’s progression to the next round.
Player Ratings:
Manchester City
- Stefan Ortega (5/10): Had little to do but couldn’t prevent Plymouth’s early goal.
- Vitor Reis (7/10): Solid defensively and comfortable in possession.
- Nathan Ake (5/10): Struggled to command the area and was subbed off at halftime due to injury.
- Nico O’Reilly (8/10): The teenage star scored twice and continues to impress in the FA Cup.
- Kevin De Bruyne (8/10): Pulled the strings throughout the game, contributing to all three goals and scoring the final one.
- Bernardo Silva (5/10): A tired performance with a missed chance in the second half.
- Phil Foden (5/10): Uninspiring display despite City’s dominance.
Plymouth Argyle
- Makysm Talovyerov (7/10): Scored the opener and was a constant aerial threat.
- Conor Hazard (6/10): Made several key saves but couldn’t keep City at bay.
Post-Match Reaction
Pep Guardiola praised Plymouth’s resilience, saying, “They made it very difficult for us, especially in the first half. But we showed patience and quality to turn the game around.”
For Plymouth, the defeat marked the end of a remarkable FA Cup run that saw them defeat Premier League giants Liverpool. Manager Miron Muslic expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “We gave everything against one of the best teams in the world. The fans should be proud of the players.”
Manchester City now look ahead to the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they will aim to continue their quest for silverware on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle can take heart from their valiant efforts, which have reignited hope for their Championship survival
