By Daily Sports on January 7, 2019

Phil Foden scored his first goal at Etihad Stadium as a strong Manchester City side hit seven against Rotherham to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Midfielder Foden, 18, made it 2-0 from the edge of the six-yard box after Raheem Sterling had opened the scoring from Kevin de Bruyne’s pass.

Championship side Rotherham found it tough going and an own goal by Semi Ajayi made it 3-0 before half-time.

Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane also scored. It was another powerful attacking performance by Pep Guardiola’s defending Premier League champions against a side who are 21st in the second tier.

The visitors did force goalkeeper Ederson into a fine save to deny Michael Smith in the closing stages but Rotherham remain without a win in the FA Cup since November 2013.

It was Guardiola’s joint-biggest win since taking charge of City in the summer of 2016.It is the only domestic cup to elude Guardiola, with City being beaten by Arsenal in the semi-finals in 2017 followed by last season’s surprise fifth-round exit at League One Wigan.

And the Spaniard took no chances against Rotherham.

Despite making eight changes, he named a side including De Bruyne as captain and Jesus, Sterling and Mahrez in attack.

Ilkay Gundogan also started and the German midfielder finished the game with four assists.

Alarm bells were ringing in the Rotherham defence as early as the second minute when Jesus headed against the bar and it was not long before Sterling opened the scoring after gliding past a defender.

Rotherham looked like they would go in at the interval still in the tie – before two goals in three minutes at the end of the half took the match beyond them.

Foden, a boyhood City fan, celebrated his first home goal after Gundogan’s ball bounced off the teenager’s knee and rolled over the line.

Moments later it was 3-0 as Ajayi sliced into his own net while trying to stop Sterling from reaching Kyle Walker’s pass.

There was no respite for the Millers after the break.

Once Jesus made it 4-0 from close range after Sterling’s pass, Guardiola sent on Germany international Sane.

Mahrez added the next after a one-two with Gundogan, who then provided the corner for Otamendi to head home the sixth.

But City were still not done and Sane added the seventh five minutes from time after another assist by Gundogan.

Rotherham are left to concentrate on staying in the Championship and face a huge game at bottom club Ipswich on Saturday.

After the final whistle, Millers boss Paul Warne applauded the 6,000 travelling fans who made the journey to the Etihad. (BBC)

•Photo shows Manchester City players 

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 7, 2019

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