Man City come from behind beats Bournemouth reach FA Cup semi-final

O Reilly Assists double as Man City come from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 and reach FA Cup semi-final 





Manchester City kept their trophy hopes for this season alive by coming from behind at Bournemouth to set up an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Evanilson's scrambled 21st-minute finish put the Cherries ahead at half-time and left City boss Pep Guardiola facing the prospect of ending a campaign empty-handed for the first time since 2016-17, his debut season at the club.



Erling Haaland had a first-half penalty saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga and wasted two other golden opportunities as City struggled for rhythm in the face of Bournemouth's intensity.

But Guardiola worked his magic at the break by sending on Nico O'Reilly for Abdukodir Khusanov, and four minutes into the second half the 20-year-old - operating at left-back - created the equaliser with a perfect cross for Haaland to turn in at the far post.

Another change, this time enforced, allowed City to go ahead after 63 minutes. O'Reilly played in Omar Marmoush, just on for the injured Haaland, and the Egypt attacker's strike crept under Kepa who should have done better.


FA Cup Quarterfinals Results Highlights:


Guardiola insists even an FA Cup win would not salvage a season that has been mediocre by the standards of a side that reeled off a historic four successive Premier League titles.


Bournemouth's hopes of a dream Wembley appearance were lifted as they led City at the break - but ultimately they can have no complaints as they were over-powered by the visitors' strength and quality in the second half.

Bournemouth were on a high but Guardiola's half-time alterations changed the game and Andoni Iraola's side could not respond.

The Cherries missed the influence of two of their most significant performers this season in the suspended Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen.

Hungary's Kerkez gives Bournemouth an extra dimension in defence and attack, while Huijsen's qualities at the back might just have applied more shackles to City.

In the end, this will be a bitter disappointment for Iraola and his team, who have offered so much this season and will have had the FA Cup firmly in their sights, but City's class told when the pressure was on.





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