Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium, coming from behind to keep their hopes of silverware alive.
Pep Guardiola’s side were made to work for the win after Maksym Talovierov gave the visitors a shock lead, but academy graduate Nico O’Reilly struck twice before Kevin De Bruyne sealed the result late on.
Plymouth set up to frustrate City and showed why they had knocked out Liverpool in the previous round. Sitting deep and staying compact, they forced City to rely on set pieces to break them down.
Guardiola acknowledged their defensive resilience. “They are an incredibly solid team,” he said. “They defended with solidarity. That’s why I didn’t take anything for granted.”
City dominated possession but struggled to find their usual rhythm, as Plymouth’s disciplined shape made it difficult to create clear-cut chances.
The visitors had barely ventured forward but made their only effort on goal count in the 38th minute when Talovierov headed in Matthew Sorinola’s corner.
That lead lasted until first-half stoppage time when De Bruyne delivered a free-kick from 30 yards out and O’Reilly guided a header towards goal.
Conor Hazard got a hand to it but could not prevent the equaliser, shifting momentum back in City’s favour.
O’Reilly made the difference again just after the hour mark, rising at the back post to nod in City’s second goal from a corner.
City never looked back from there, and De Bruyne wrapped up the win in the closing stages, showing his experience in what could be his final months at the club.
Guardiola’s side are now just one win away from a trip to Wembley Stadium.
