O’Reilly at the double to see City past Plymouth
Man City vs Plymouth
In a gripping encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Nico O’Reilly emerged as the standout figure, scoring a brace that propelled Manchester City to a 3-1 comeback victory over Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The young Academy graduate showcased his aerial prowess with two expertly timed headers—one in each half—that overturned an early deficit inflicted by Maksym Talovyerov’s opener for the Championship side. Plymouth, languishing near the foot of their division, had dared to dream of a third Premier League scalp in their remarkable cup run, having previously dispatched Brentford and Liverpool. However, O’Reilly’s intervention ensured that their ambitions were thwarted, and Manchester City’s captain, Kevin De Bruyne, sealed the triumph by tapping in a third goal as the match edged into stoppage time. This result not only highlighted O’Reilly’s growing influence but also cemented Manchester City’s place in the quarter-finals of the storied competition for an impressive seventh consecutive season, with their next opponents set to be revealed during the draw on Sunday evening. For O’Reilly, the night marked a personal milestone, as his two goals brought his tally to three in senior football for City, building on the debut strike he had notched against Salford City earlier in January.
The match began with Plymouth Argyle, buoyed by their vociferous traveling support and their earlier giant-killing exploits, adopting a resolute and pragmatic approach against the Premier League giants. Positioned second-bottom in the Championship, they opted to sit deep, cede possession to Manchester City, and rely on counter-attacking opportunities spearheaded by striker Mustapha Bundu, who was tasked with exploiting the channels whenever the ball came his way. Manchester City, despite lining up without a traditional striker in the absence of Erling Haaland from the starting XI, exuded an unmistakably attacking intent. The trio of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, and James McAtee fluidly interchanged positions in the central attacking areas typically occupied by Haaland, creating a dynamic and unpredictable threat. Early in the contest, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden both went close to breaking the deadlock within the first 10 minutes, their efforts signaling City’s intent to dominate proceedings. A potential handball shout against Plymouth’s Julio Pleguzuelo, stemming from a Bernardo Silva header, was waved away by the referee, adding a layer of frustration to City’s early profligacy. Nevertheless, the home side persisted, and their first significant chance fell to Ilkay Gundogan, who glided into the box and met a pinpoint delivery from Silva, only for his header to be expertly clutched by Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard, diving to his right to preserve parity.
As the first half progressed, Manchester City’s dominance in possession continued to yield opportunities, though their inability to convert kept the scoreline level. Gundogan, a seasoned campaigner, found himself at the heart of another promising move just before the half-hour mark, this time latching onto a slick exchange and unleashing a left-footed strike from 12 yards. Agonizingly for the Etihad faithful, the ball cannoned off the post, denying City the lead their play arguably merited. Meanwhile, Plymouth began to grow into the game, their confidence bolstered by a series of throw-ins and corners won in advanced positions. Their persistence paid dividends when a well-flighted corner found the towering Maksym Talovyerov, who rose above the City defense to nod the ball past the helpless goalkeeper, sending the away contingent into raptures and silencing the home crowd. The lead, however, proved short-lived. With halftime looming, Nico O’Reilly seized his moment, meeting a perfectly whipped free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne with a glancing header that carried too much pace for Hazard to repel. The equalizer restored equilibrium and underscored O’Reilly’s burgeoning reputation, marking his second goal in the FA Cup that season after his earlier strike against Salford City, a moment that had first announced his arrival on the senior stage.
The second half commenced in much the same vein as the first, with Manchester City asserting control and probing for an opening. It didn’t take long for Conor Hazard to be called into action again, this time thwarting a swift move down the right flank that culminated in Bernardo Silva redirecting the ball goalward with a quick reaction, only for the Plymouth keeper to collapse to the turf and smother the effort. Rico Lewis then came tantalizingly close to putting City ahead, unleashing a spectacular volley that soared just over the crossbar, its trajectory failing to dip sufficiently to trouble Hazard. As the hour mark approached and the game remained deadlocked, Pep Guardiola turned to his talismanic striker, Erling Haaland, to shift the momentum. The Norwegian, introduced as a substitute, wasted little time in making his presence felt. Within 10 minutes of entering the fray, he positioned himself cleverly at the back post to capitalize on a scuffed shot from Foden, though his effort sailed over the bar. Haaland’s physicality and movement visibly rattled the Plymouth backline, and he soon became the focal point of City’s attacks, drawing desperate defending from the visitors. Two successive crosses aimed at the towering striker tested Plymouth’s resolve—one appearing to strike the arm of substitute Tymoteusz Puchacz, the other requiring a stunning save from Hazard to keep the scores level.
The turning point arrived from the ensuing corner, as Nico O’Reilly once again proved decisive. Rising to meet the delivery, he powered a header beyond Hazard, sparking delirium among the majority of the Etihad crowd and securing his brace for the evening. The goal not only handed Manchester City the lead but also underscored O’Reilly’s knack for delivering in critical moments, further endearing him to the supporters. Plymouth, sensing the end of their valiant cup run—a journey that had brought both prestige and financial reward—threw everything forward in the closing stages, leaving inevitable gaps at the back. Erling Haaland, ever the predator, sought to exploit these spaces, and after seeing one effort parried by Hazard, he demonstrated his selflessness by recovering to square the ball for Kevin De Bruyne. The captain gratefully tapped home in stoppage time, putting the result beyond doubt and capping a hard-fought victory. For Manchester City, the win reaffirmed their pedigree in the FA Cup, while for Nico O’Reilly, it marked a defining night in his fledgling career, one that promised much more to come as the club marched onward in the competition.
