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Man City v Plymouth LIVE: FA Cup result as O’Reilly brace helps hosts come from behind to earn win

Man City 3-1 Plymouth: Nico O’Reilly brace helps secure comeback win for Guardiola’s side

Chris Wilson
Saturday 01 March 2025 20:13 GMT
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Man City boss Pep Guardiola gives Jack Grealish injury update ahead of Plymouth FA Cup clash

Manchester City booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 comeback win over Plymouth Argyle.

Pep Guardiola made 11 changes ahead of kick-off but it started with a seamless transition for the hosts as they dominated the opening exchanges.

However, it was the visitors who struck first when Maksym Talovierov rose highest to head home a corner in the 38th minute.

But the hosts but they recovered quickly, with Nico O’Reilly equalising just before half-time as he glanced in from Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick.

The second half began with City enjoying plenty of possession and going close through Berardo Silva, Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland, and the pressure paid off in the 78th minute as O’Reilly nodded in for his brace.

And from there it was one-way traffic for the hosts, with De Bruyne sliding in to wrap it up in the 90th minute.

Follow all of the latest from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below.

Man City 1-1 Plymouth

54 mins

Plenty more pressure from City, with a coupe of crosses requiring last-ditch defending from the visitors.

Foden swings in a corner but it's headed away for now.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:59

Man City 1-1 Plymouth

50 mins

CLOSE!

More pressure from City, but it hasn't amounted to anything yet...until now.

It’s worked forward and Gundogan bursts into the box, beating three challenges in the process, before cutting it back to Silva, whose shot is straight at Ortega.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:56

Man City 1-1 Plymouth

47 mins

The second period has begun in a similar manner to how the first ended, with City fizzing a ball across the mouth of the goal, but Foden can’t control.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:52

KICK-OFF! Man City 1-1 Plymouth

The visitors get the second half underway at the Etihad.

City have brought on Ruben Dias for Nathan Ake.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:49

HALF-TIME! Man City 1-1 Plymouth

It was an entertaining last 10 or so minutes of the first half for a neutral, though much of the opening 35 minutes was dominated by City.

The hosts were quickly in their rhythm but they looked a little pedestrian at times, as has occasionally been the case throughout the season.

Plymouth will have taken plenty of heart from the opening half, but they’ll need to offer more in attack if they want to earn a famous result here.

Ruben Dias is warming up at half-time, and it looks like he’ll come on for Nathan Ake.

The second half is on the way shortly.

1 March 2025 18:44

HALF-TIME! Man City 1-1 Plymouth

Plymouth had eight minutes to enjoy a lead. Given they haven't won away in the Championship all season, it was remarkable that they found themselves ahead at the Etihad (and another sign of City's decline).

It was also a wonderful moment for the giant Maksim Talovyerov, the club record signing who headed in.

The signs of City's vulnerability could encourage Plymouth. The quality of Kevin de Bruyne's delivery helped bring City level.

Richard Jolly1 March 2025 18:36

HALF-TIME! Man City 1-1 Plymouth

Shortly after the goal, the referee blows the whistle for half-time, and the two sides go into the break level.

It’s been a one-sided half at the Etihad but Plymouth are still in it, though they may come to regret not holding out until the break.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:35

GOAL! Man City 1-1 Plymouth

45 +1 mins

GOAL! City are level.

Right after that De Bruyne chance, City win a free-kick just outside the area, to the right.

The Belgian swings it in towards the far post and O’Reilly is running across to glance a header towards the far post.

Hazard gets s fingertip to it, but he can’t keep it out!

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:33

Man City 0-1 Plymouth

45 mins

Brilliant from both sides as City work it forward and spread it to an overlapping De Bruyne, who rifles a low effort on target that forces a brilliant diving save from Hazard to tip it past the far post.

Chris Wilson1 March 2025 18:31

Man City 0-1 Plymouth

43 mins

It’s been all City since the goal, and they win another corner as De Bruyne’s effort is deflected.

Foden swings it in and Ake gets the header at the near post, but again it’s wide.

Plymouth can’t allow many more of those if they want to stay ahead.

1 March 2025 18:29

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