Manchester City secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals after staging a determined second-half comeback against Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola’s side initially struggled to find their rhythm and looked to be on the brink of disappointment when Evanilson put the home team ahead in the first half.
City’s frustrations were compounded by Erling Haaland missing a crucial penalty, as well as squandering two additional clear-cut opportunities. Meanwhile, Matheus Nunes was at fault on two separate occasions in the buildup to Bournemouth’s opening goal, further adding to City’s woes. However, the introduction of young midfielder Nico O’Reilly in the second half proved to be the turning point of the match.
O’Reilly made an instant impact, providing a well-timed assist for Haaland to equalize. Unfortunately for City, their star striker was forced off with an injury shortly after scoring. Undeterred, O’Reilly stepped up once again, setting up substitute Omar Marmoush for what turned out to be the winning goal. With this crucial victory, Guardiola’s men ensured their place in the next stage of the competition.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Ederson (6) – The Brazilian goalkeeper found himself in some difficult situations due to his teammates’ lapses in defense but managed to handle most of them well. However, he could have done better in dealing with the goal Bournemouth scored.
Matheus Nunes (4) – A night to forget for Nunes, who made two costly errors leading to the hosts’ goal. While he showed some improvement when pushing forward, his defensive lapses from a full-back position put City in a tough spot.
Abdukodir Khusanov (5) – Struggled against Bournemouth’s pacey attack and picked up a yellow card for a necessary tactical foul inside City’s defensive third. Taken off at half-time.
Ruben Dias (6) – Grew into the game as it progressed, with City tightening up defensively in the second half to limit Bournemouth’s attacking threats.
Josko Gvardiol (7) – Not as adventurous going forward as he usually is, particularly when shifting inside in the second half. Nonetheless, he remained composed and played an important role in keeping City’s defense organized.
Mateo Kovacic (6) – A few shaky moments, but his work rate was commendable. Despite having started only twice in City’s last ten matches, he managed to keep up with the game’s intensity.
Ilkay Gundogan (7) – One of his best performances in recent weeks. Positioned himself well in attacking spaces and contributed defensively when needed, playing an essential role in City’s control of the game.
Bernardo Silva (7) – Similar to Gundogan, Silva was more involved than in previous outings. He showed greater intent in the final third, actively trying to create chances for his teammates.
Kevin De Bruyne (7) – Frequently involved in City’s play, but struggled to exert his usual level of influence. While he dictated some moments, his impact on the game wasn’t as significant as expected.
Phil Foden (5) – A quiet performance from the England international, who found it difficult to link up with Haaland. He failed to assert himself as an attacking leader for City.
Erling Haaland (5) – A frustrating outing for the Norwegian striker. After missing a penalty and two great chances, he redeemed himself with an equalizer. However, his night ended in disappointment as he was forced off with an injury.
Substitutes
Nico O’Reilly (9) – The game-changer. Introduced at half-time, O’Reilly provided two superb assists, first setting up Haaland before creating the winning goal for Marmoush. A performance full of confidence and creativity.
Omar Marmoush (7) – Replaced Haaland in the 58th minute and wasted no time making an impact, scoring the decisive goal just moments after coming on.
Jack Grealish (7) – Brought on for Foden in the 62nd minute and offered control in possession. He kept the ball well and consistently looked for opportunities to unlock Bournemouth’s defense.
With this impressive second-half turnaround, Manchester City demonstrated their resilience and quality, securing a crucial victory that keeps their hopes alive for yet another domestic trophy under Pep Guardiola.
