CRYSTAL PALACE 0, MANCHESTER CITY 3 (FA Cup 4th Round)
- Raheem Sterling breaks the deadlock just before half time
- Leroy Sane doubles the lead after 71 minutes – his third goal in 3 games for City after netting against Arsenal and Spurs.
- Yaya Toure free kick in added time to make sure of victory
- Vincent Kompany plays 90 minutes after months out with knee ligament injury
Manchester City cruised their way through to the last 16 of the FA Cup with a minimum of fuss after a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Goals by Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane – his third in as many games, and Yaya Toure cheered the 3,662 travelling fans at Selhurst Park who had to endure some extreme weather during the game in the form of a severe hail storm.
After some setbacks in recent weeks, Pep Guardiola had regularly urged Sergio Aguero to improve his play and opted for Gabriel Jesus in the FA Cup ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho when the Argentine striker picked up an injury after the Spurs game last weekend.
Alongside Jesus, City also brought in Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Fabian Delph, and notably City’s club captain Vincent Kompany made his first start since departing the Selhurst Park pitch in November with a knee ligament injury.
Stepping aside with the Premier League trip to West Ham in mind were Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi.
Guardiola was understandably very happy with Gabriel Jesus’ contribution, adding:
“He helped us a lot. He’s so aggressive. He’s not a tall guy but he’s so strong.
“He doesn’t speak English and he will need time but he makes a lot of movement. The pass for the first goal was outstanding.”
Guardiola pointed out the City front line at Selhurst Park were barely 21 years old, declaring:
“They are the future for Manchester City.”
Gabriel Jesus is real competition for Sergio Aguero
Gabriel Jesus got his first start for City and took everything, even the hailstones, in his stride.
The Brazilian front-man earned his start in place of Sergio Aguero, who picked up a knock against Spurs last weekend, while Kelechi Iheanacho was rested and gave a show of tenacity, touch, strength and a range of passing which was exactly what Guardiola has been trying to get out of City’s iconic Argentine front-man.
The one thing missing was a goal, his best chance was a hard shot straight at Wayne Hennessey, but in a team like City the goals will come.
He might not have scored but City’s entire front line impressed with the 19-year-old Jesus joining 20-year-old Leroy Sane and 22-year-old Raheem Sterling serving up a compelling look at the future of City’s attack – and it looks very promising.
In contrast to recent games, Sterling put away the first chance he was given, a sumptuous through ball by Jesus, with a fine finish past Hennessey.
Leroy Sane proved a menace to the makeshift Palace side and chalked up his third goal in as many games after David Silva found him with a another trademark defence splitting pass.
And Yaya Toure, who Palace boss Sam Allardyce complained should have been sent off for two bookings during the game, made the game completely safe with a cracking free kick in injury time after Jesus had been brought down by Joe Ledley.
It was his seventh goal in eight games against Crystal Palace.
All of this was backed by a defence which seemed calmer under the influence of returned captain Vincent Kompany and Willy Caballero seemed an assured presence in goal despite only being tested twice – the Argentine saved well from James Tomkins in the first half while Loic Remy should have done better when presented with a chance in the second half.
Kompany completed a full 90 minutes for City after his knee ligament injury but was hardly tested by a feeble Crystal Palace attack.