Manchester City faced an unexpected challenge in their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle, as the Championship strugglers stunned the Etihad Stadium by taking the lead in the 38th minute. The visitors, who had already knocked out Liverpool in an earlier round, showed resilience and fearlessness against the Premier League giants.
Maksym Talovierov, Plymouth’s Ukrainian defender, silenced the home crowd when he rose highest from a corner to head the ball past Stefan Ortega. The goal was a reward for Plymouth’s disciplined defensive setup and ability to capitalize on set-piece opportunities. For a moment, it looked like Pep Guardiola’s side might be on the verge of an embarrassing early exit.
O’Reilly’s Timely Response Rescues Manchester City
Manchester City did not take long to respond. Just before halftime, 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly, starting as a left-back, stepped up in a crucial moment. The teenager found himself in the right place at the right time, heading home the equalizer to ensure City did not go into the break trailing.
O’Reilly’s goal was crucial in shifting the momentum back in Manchester City’s favor, preventing panic from creeping into Guardiola’s team. His strike lifted the spirits of both the players and the fans, setting the stage for a dominant second-half performance.
Manchester City Dominate After the Break
The second half saw Manchester City take complete control of the match, with their usual dominance in possession keeping Plymouth pinned back in their own half. However, the Pilgrims put up a valiant defensive effort, frustrating City’s attacking stars with resolute defending.
As the match wore on, the reigning Premier League champions pressed harder for a breakthrough. It took until the 75th minute for them to finally break Plymouth’s resistance, and once again, it was O’Reilly who delivered. Rising highest to meet a cross, the teenager scored his second header of the night, sending Manchester City into the lead for the first time in the match.
De Bruyne Seals Victory in Added Time
Despite trailing, Plymouth did not give up, and their fans continued to cheer them on as they searched for a dramatic late equalizer. However, City’s superior quality ultimately proved too much. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Erling Haaland set up Kevin De Bruyne, who calmly slotted home a third goal to put the result beyond doubt.
The Belgian midfielder’s late strike ensured that Manchester City progressed comfortably to the FA Cup quarter-finals, avoiding what could have been one of the biggest upsets of the season. For Plymouth, the result was disappointing, but their spirited performance earned them plenty of respect from both fans and pundits alike.
Nico O’Reilly Reacts to His Match-Winning Performance
Speaking after the game, Nico O’Reilly expressed his delight at scoring twice in such an important fixture. “Two goals from left-back,” he said in an interview with ITV. “I wasn’t really expecting that, but yeah, I’m glad. Going into half-time 1-0 down would have been tough, but [me scoring] lifted the spirits so we were ready to go in the second half.”
The teenager also spoke highly of Kevin De Bruyne, praising the veteran midfielder’s influence. “He’s an amazing player, he trains well every day, his work is 100%, and it’s a pleasure to play with him.”
On Manchester City’s FA Cup ambitions, O’Reilly made it clear that the team is focused on winning the competition. “Of course, it’s important. It’s a big competition; all the teams in England play in it, and of course, we want to win it. We want to do our best, and now we’re into the quarter-finals.”
With Manchester City safely through to the next round, Guardiola’s men will be looking to maintain their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, Plymouth’s FA Cup journey ends with pride intact, having put up a strong fight against one of the best teams in the world.
