Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Two deflected first half strikes by Bernardo Silva decided a rainswept FA Cup quarter final against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City quickly took control of the game and reached the semi final with a controlled performance in poor conditions against a side who lacked width and ideas.
It was the first time in FA Cup history that a team had reached the semi finals in six consecutive seasons.
After a cagey start City took the lead with the first shot of the game – a deflected effort by Bernardo Silva that came off Dan Burn in the 13th minute.
Newcastle had been ruing their luck after catching out City with some good build-up play to the point where Pep Guardiola had to call Mateo Kovacic over for a tactical reshuffle and the Blues never looked back after that.
City remained somewhat sloppy on the ball, which gave the Magpies hope but despite a packed defence off the ball the visitors parted nicely for Silva to score his second after cutting inside from the right and shooting past Martin Dubravka with a low effort from the edge of the box with the help of a deflection off Sven Botman after 31 minutes – his 10th goal of the season.
City’s FA Cup ‘keeper Stefan Ortega had already gained confidence by coming off his line but he really earned his match fee with a great save from Alexander Isak.
Jeremy Doku had come inside from his left wing berth to distract the Magpies and had great chances to score amid all the chaos he caused while Ruben Dias had a great header saved by Dubravka.
Doku had an effort saved by Dubravka in the second half while Haaland shot wide despite having options to his right.
Haaland, who was also caught on a rare offside, was denied a chance of a header by a fingertip save by Dubravka from Kyle Walker’s cross to keep the ball away from him and a shot blocked by Botman.
Newcastle’s quadruple change brought them a chance when Alexander Isak looked to be going clear but Manuel Akanji guided the Swedish striker wide.
The lively Doku was replaced with 13 minutes to go by Oscar Bobb in City’s first change of the game and he was soon followed by Erling Haaland, who had had a frustrating night in front of goal, when he was replaced by Julian Alvarez with 3 minutes to go.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Stefan Ortega: 7. Didn’t put a foot wrong. Came off his line a few times to keep the ball out and a great save to prevent Alexander Isak from pulling a goal back.
Kyle Walker: 6. Without full backs to overlap he could just look after Anthony Gordon. Miguel Almiron gave him something different to think about but nothing he couldn’t handle.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Defensively solid. Used his pace well to combat Alexander Isak and stopped him getting a clear shot midway through the second half when he looked to be going clear.
Ruben Dias: 7. Generally good in event, Good defensive clearance from a Jacob Murphy cross in the area and had a headed chance at a goal saved by Martin Dubravka. Set up Bernardo Silva for his second goal.
Josko Gvardiol: 6. Saw a volley deflected wide – not much danger down his side so he spent increasing amounts of time up field.
Rodri: 7. Got into his stride during the first half and kept City ticking in the second half.
Phil Foden: 8. Bossed midfield in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. Showed his quality in tight midfield spaces and shrugged off all challengers, had a couple of chances to score himself, and got stuck in defensively too.
Mateo Kovacic: 6. Calming presence in midfield but was given extra instructions from Pep Guardiola when Newcastle bypassed the City midfield too easily.
Bernardo Silva: 8. The man couldn’t be picked up and scored twice within 31 minutes – thanks to a couple of deflections – and helped pin down Newcastle effectively. Good leadership on the pitch too.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Came inside, drew challenges from Jamaal Lascelles and caused chaos, wild finishing although he was unlucky to see a goal bound shot saved by Martin Dubravka.
Erling Haaland: 6. Tried so hard to score. Gave Sven Botman a work-out but was scythed down a couple of times by a very rough Newcastle side. Saw a shot go wide in his keenness to score and was caught on a rare offside in the second half. Late shot accidentally blocked by Botman after Oscar Bobb set him up.
Oscar Bobb (on for Jeremy Doku, 77): No time to mark.
Julian Alvarez (on for Erling Haaland, 87): No time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Ederson was ruled out with a thigh injury sustained in the game against Liverpool while Nathan Ake, John Stones, Julian Alvarez, and Kevin De Bruyne – who later dropped out of the Belgian international squad with a ‘minor’ groin injury – dropped out of the team that drew at Liverpool last Sunday.
Stefan Ortega, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku started against injury-hit Newcastle United.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Man City 1, Newcastle Utd 0: 13. Bernardo Silva’s deflected shot ballooned up and over Martin Duravka after taking a wicked deflection off the luckless Dan Burn.
Man City 2, Newcastle Utd 0: 31. Bernardo Silva tried his luck from the edge of the box after cutting inside from the right and shooting past Martin Dubravka who should have done better.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Man City: Ortega, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Foden, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Doku (Bobb 77), Haaland (Alvarez 87)
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Stones, Ake, Grealish, Gomez, Nunes, Lewis
Goals: Bernardo Silva 13, 31
Newcastle Utd: Dubravka, Schar, Lascelles (C), Botman (Krafth 83), Murphy, Guimares, Sean Longstaff (Miley 62), Burn (Hall 62), Gordon (Almiron 62), Willock (Anderson 62), Isak
Newcastle Utd Subs not used: Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, Targett
Booked: Schar 17 (foul on Erling Haaland); Lascelles 28 (foul on Jeremy Doku); Miguel Amiron 90+3 (foul on Phil Foden)
Referee: Simon Hooper