Manchester City pulled off a strong comeback to beat Plymouth Argyle 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round. It wasn’t an easy game for City, as they had to fight back after going behind in the first half. But thanks to young Nico O’Reilly’s two goals and a late strike from Kevin De Bruyne, they got the job done. Now, Pep Guardiola has made it clear he wants to win the FA Cup this season.
A Tough Start for City
Plymouth Argyle might be a Championship side, but they came into this game full of confidence. After all, they had already knocked out Premier League teams Liverpool and Brentford. They proved they weren’t afraid of City either, taking the lead in the 38th minute when defender Maksym Talovierov rose highest to head in a goal from a corner. For a moment, an upset looked possible.
City, who had made eleven changes from their last game, struggled to break Plymouth down. But just before halftime, 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly stepped up. He got on the end of a beautiful free kick from Kevin De Bruyne and guided a header into the net. It was a huge goal for the young academy player, and it shifted the momentum in City’s favor.
O’Reilly Shines as City Take Control
In the second half, Manchester City looked much stronger. They kept the pressure on, and in the 76th minute, O’Reilly did it again—another header, another goal. The young midfielder was having a dream night.
With Plymouth running out of steam, City put the game to bed in stoppage time. Erling Haaland’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly for De Bruyne, who made no mistake from close range. That was it 3-1, and City were through to the quarter-finals.
Guardiola’s FA Cup Ambitions
This season hasn’t been smooth sailing for Manchester City. They’re not as dominant in the Premier League as usual, and they’ve already been knocked out of both the League Cup and Champions League. That leaves the FA Cup as their best shot at silverware, and Guardiola knows it.
After the game, he made it clear that he’s fully focused on winning the competition. City have reached the semi-finals several times in recent years, but Guardiola wants more. He knows that lifting the FA Cup would be a big boost for the club and the fans.
His decision to rest key players for this match shows that he’s thinking long-term. With young talents like O’Reilly stepping up, he now has more options as he plans for the next rounds. The FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17 is the big target, and City are determined to be there.
Even though they lost, Plymouth Argyle can be proud of their performance. Beating Liverpool and Brentford was no fluke they’re a well-organized, hardworking team. Against City, they defended well, took their chance when it came, and gave the Premier League champions a scare.
Their manager, Miron Muslic, praised his players after the game. He knows that this FA Cup run has been special for the club and the fans. Now, Plymouth will focus on their Championship campaign, hoping to use this experience as motivation.
For Manchester City, the journey in the FA Cup continues. Guardiola and his team will need to stay focused as they aim for the trophy. If their star players stay fit and young talents like O’Reilly keep stepping up, they have a great chance of going all the way.
Plymouth, meanwhile, can hold their heads high. Their FA Cup journey may be over, but they’ve shown they can compete with top teams. Now, their attention turns back to the league, where they’ll hope to finish the season strongly.
Conclusion
Manchester City’s comeback win over Plymouth Argyle was another reminder of why the FA Cup is so special. Even against lower-league opposition, nothing comes easy. But City showed their quality when it mattered, and now, with Guardiola’s eyes firmly on the prize, they’ll be pushing hard to lift the trophy in May.