Manchester City faced a tough challenge against Leyton Orient but managed to secure a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup before their crucial Champions League playoff against Real Madrid. As Pep Guardiola’s squad gears up to host Madrid on Tuesday for the first leg, they will have to elevate their game after overcoming Orient with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
Orient initially set the stage for a potential upset, leading 1-0 at halftime against the four-time reigning Premier League champions. The breakthrough came when Jamie Donley’s astonishing shot from just beyond the halfway line hit the crossbar and ricocheted off Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in the 16th minute. This goal, acknowledged as an own-goal, was celebrated exuberantly by Donley, who was later awarded the player of the match.
However, City refused to back down, using their depth to turn the tide. Substitute Abdukodir Khusanov found the equalizer in the 56th minute when Rico Lewis’ strike deflected off him. Then, Kevin De Bruyne secured the win for City by flicking a shot past Josh Keeley in the 79th minute. Despite the victory, Guardiola faced a setback with the news that $61.8 million midfielder Nico Gonzalez had sustained an injury and had to leave the field after just 22 minutes of play.
In another FA Cup match, Bournemouth continued their strong form in the Premier League with a 2-0 selection over Everton. They secured their advancement with a penalty from Antoine Semenyo and a goal from Daniel Jebbison, both completed before halftime at Goodison Park. Although Everton rallied in the second half, hitting the post three times, they were unable to find the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Ipswich, who are focused on avoiding relegation in the current season, achieved a 4-1 victory against Coventry in the Cup, with Jack Clarke scoring twice to lead his team onward. Southampton, on the other hand, suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Burnley, a club vying for promotion to the Premier League, marking Burnley’s 10th shutout in their last 11 games.
Rodrigo Muniz was the standout player for Fulham, netting both goals in their 2-1 triumph over Wigan. Although Wigan had won the competition in 2013 by defeating Manchester City in the final, they now find themselves in the third tier of English football. They challenged Fulham and leveled the game with Jonny Smith’s goal in the second half, but Muniz’s decisive second goal ensured Fulham’s progress.
In a surprising turn, Leeds United, who currently lead the second tier, were eliminated after losing 2-0 at home to Millwall, knocking them out of the competition.
