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James McAtee put on a show with a stunning second-half hat-trick as Manchester City cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a whopping 8-0 victory over League Two neighbors Salford City.
Jeremy Doku added two goals, Jack Grealish finally ended his year-long goal drought, and young stars Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly also got in on the action. It was a total domination from Pep Guardiola’s rotated squad, leaving Salford feeling humbled in the biggest match of their history.
The evening was especially rough for Salford’s famous owners—Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs—who faced jeers from City fans all night. Neville skipped the drama, but Scholes and Giggs had to watch the demolition unfold from the stands and technical area.
Guardiola made nine changes to the team that recently crushed West Ham, giving starts to youngsters Mubama, O’Reilly, and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. The 20-year-old Mubama and 19-year-old O’Reilly made their mark, each scoring their first senior goals in style.
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The rout kicked off early when Jeremy Doku took advantage of a Jack Grealish assist to score in the eighth minute. Mubama doubled the lead with a simple finish after great work from Matheus Nunes, while O’Reilly smashed home City’s third just before halftime.
Salford had a few chances to respond, with Kylian Kouassi testing Ederson and Kevin Berkoe missing a chance, but City’s quality shone through as they shifted gears.
Grealish, who hadn’t scored since December 2023, converted a penalty early in the second half after being fouled. He later set up McAtee’s hat-trick goal, marking a strong return to form for the England international.
James McAtee was the star of the night, scoring three times in a clinical display. His first came from a slick team move, the second after a sharp delivery from Phil Foden, and the third from a precise Grealish cross, earning him the match ball.
With stars like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva rested, City’s fringe players and academy graduates stepped up, showcasing the incredible depth of Guardiola’s squad. This result is a clear reminder of why City are favorites in every competition.
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