By Daily Sports on March 2, 2017
Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals after fighting back to beat much-changed Championship promotion hopefuls Huddersfield in their fifth-round replay.
After a 0-0 draw in the original tie, the visitors led when Harry Bunn’s shot went through Claudio Bravo’s legs.
But tap-ins from Leroy Sane and Pablo Zabaleta, with Sergio Aguero’s clinical penalty in between, turned the replay in City’s favour before half-time.
Aguero swept in Raheem Sterling’s cross at the near post for City’s fourth, before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho poked in with the last kick of the game.
City’s reward is a quarter-final trip to Premier League rivals Middlesbrough on Saturday, 11 March (12:15 GMT).
Not a Bravo performance
Despite the relative ease of extending their unbeaten run to eight matches, there were still some concerning sights for Guardiola. Namely more uncertain goalkeeping from Bravo.
Guardiola reiterated his confidence in the former Barcelona keeper before the replay, despite trusting Willy Caballero instead in City's past four Premier League matches and the Champions League last-16 win against Monaco.
However, he watched the Chilean make another error to gift the opening goal to former City youngster Bunn.
The 33-year-old stopper, who was dropped after conceding 16 goals from the previous 24 shots on target he had faced in the Premier League, let Bunn’s low strike through his legs in Huddersfield’s first effort on target.
That led to ironic applause from the home fans when Bravo blocked Huddersfield’s second shot at goal shortly before half-time.
Guardiola did not appear pleased, turning around to glare at the supporters behind him.
But, by the final whistle, the Spaniard was full of smiles as City’s potent attack rendered Bravo’s error meaningless.
•Adapted from a BBC report. Photo shows Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho celebrating a goal for Manchester City.
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 2, 2017
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