Man City Battle Back to Beat Plymouth 3-1 at Etihad

What a match! Manchester City came from behind to snag a 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.

March 1, 2025
9:09 pm

Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium. The match showed off Plymouth’s grit, as they took an early lead, but in the end, City’s quality and determination shone through.

First Half: Plymouth’s Early Surprise

Plymouth Argyle, known for their giant-killing this season, including a big win over Liverpool, came into the match full of confidence. Their ambition paid off in the 38th minute when defender Maksym Talovierov headed in a well-placed corner, surprising City’s goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and giving the visitors a shock lead.

Caught off guard, Manchester City quickly started to take control. Just before halftime, 19-year-old midfielder Nico O’Reilly found space in the box and headed home an equalizer, calming the home fans’ nerves.

Second Half: City’s Quality Prevails

In the second half, Manchester City ramped up their attack. Plymouth’s defense, which had held strong, began to tire under the pressure. In the 75th minute, O’Reilly struck again, heading in his second goal to put City ahead.

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Plymouth tried to fight back but struggled to create clear chances against a well-organized City defense. As the match wound down, City’s star striker Erling Haaland, back from injury, made a great run down the right. His first shot was saved by Plymouth’s goalkeeper Conor Hazard, but the rebound fell to Kevin De Bruyne, who slotted it home in the 90th minute, sealing the win for the hosts.

Plymouth’s Valiant Effort

Even though they lost, Plymouth Argyle put in a commendable performance. They not only took the lead against one of England’s top teams but also held a solid defensive line for most of the game. Their FA Cup journey, marked by wins over Premier League sides, has been impressive and shows their potential and resilience.

Looking Ahead

With this win, Manchester City keeps their hopes for silverware alive. Manager Pep Guardiola will be happy with the team’s response after going behind and the rise of young talents like Nico O’Reilly. As they await their next opponent, City will look to build on this performance in their FA Cup quest.

Plymouth Argyle, while exiting the competition, can take pride in their FA Cup run. Now, they’ll shift their focus to the Championship, hoping to use the experience gained from this cup adventure to boost their league campaign.