Manchester City survived an FA Cup upset as teenage sensation Nico O'Reilly led a spirited comeback in their 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round on Saturday.
Plymouth, currently struggling in the Championship relegation zone, had already shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round after eliminating Brentford in the third. For a moment, it seemed they were on the verge of adding City to their list of giant-killing conquests.
Pep Guardiola’s side found themselves trailing when Maksym Talovierov’s powerful first-half header gave the visitors a shock lead at the Etihad Stadium. But O'Reilly, making just his sixth senior start, stepped up with a crucial brace to steer City to safety. Kevin De Bruyne also found the net, helping his side avoid another embarrassing exit in what has been a turbulent season.
O'Reilly to the rescue
Guardiola praised Plymouth’s resilience, acknowledging how difficult they made the game for his side.
"Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so tough. They were incredibly well-organized, and we had to work hard for this," Guardiola said. "Nico is a big presence and can play multiple positions. I'm really happy for him—he helped us a lot."
With City's hopes of silverware dwindling after their Champions League and League Cup exits, the FA Cup remains one of their last chances for redemption. Having lost to Manchester United in last season’s final, Guardiola’s men are now into the quarter-finals, aiming to lift the trophy for the third time under his leadership.
"Reaching six semi-finals in a row shows how much this competition means to us," Guardiola added. "I'm really proud."
City survive early scare
Liverpool had been punished for underestimating Plymouth, and City faced a similar challenge after Guardiola rotated his entire starting lineup from Wednesday’s league win over Tottenham.
The early exchanges saw City struggle to break down a determined Plymouth defense, with Phil Foden coming close before Ilkay Gundogan struck the post. However, Argyle’s disciplined approach paid off in the 38th minute when Talovierov powered home a header from a corner, leaving Stefan Ortega with no chance.
Stunned into action, City responded with urgency. De Bruyne forced a save from Conor Hazard before O'Reilly restored parity on the stroke of half-time, glancing in a well-placed header from De Bruyne’s free-kick.
O'Reilly and De Bruyne seal City's progress
In the second half, Guardiola introduced Erling Haaland in search of a breakthrough. Foden and De Bruyne both tested Hazard, while Haaland saw a close-range effort denied.
City finally edged ahead in the 76th minute under controversial circumstances. O'Reilly appeared to push Plymouth’s Jordan Houghton before nodding in from a corner, but the goal stood.
As Plymouth pushed forward in stoppage time, City sealed the win with De Bruyne finishing off a rebound from Haaland’s saved effort, confirming their place in the last eight.
Though they endured a scare, City's hopes of FA Cup glory remain alive, thanks in large part to the heroics of 19-year-old O'Reilly. Photo by Ank kumar, Wikimedia commons.