Manchester City came back from goal and beat Bournemouth in the quarterfinal vitality between both sides of the FA Cup to win the Wembley semi-finals.
It was Evanilson who beat the deadlock in the 21 minutes to put the home side ahead, but Ehringhaaland was equal in the second half over three minutes. The final score and City’s victory were the work of alternative Omar Marmash in the 63rd minute.
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Andoni Iraora lacked some celebrities from his backline, the duo in demand for Dean Huizen and Milos Kerquez was stopped. The Bournemouth manager also had to do it without right-back Julian Araujo (thigh), Winger Louis Sinisterra (hamstring), and striker Enes und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und und
With Kepa Arrizabalaga at the goal, Marco Senesi and Julio Soler stepped in to replace the suspended centre-back and left-back respectively. Louis Cook and Ilia Zabarini completed the back four. Ryan Christie was paired with Tyler Adams in the deep midfield, with the trio of David Brooks, Justin Kruyvelt and Antoine Semegno supporting striker Evanilson.
Meanwhile, away dugout Pep Guardiola also had defensive issues with John Stones (thighs), Manuel Akanji (adductor) and Nathan Ake (knee) joining midfielder Rodri (ACL) as a side job, with the defensive issues that would be avoided. Winger Oscar Bob returned to training and played at the youth level, but he never got involved in vitality.
Ederson Moraes stood between the posts, with Masteus Nunes on the right back and Abdukodil Kusanov joining Reuben Diaz at the centre of the defense, while Josko Gvaldior on the left. Ilkai Gandogan paired up with Mateo Kovacic in the middle midfield, with Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruin and Bernardo Silva playing just behind Erling Haaland on the offensive.
Short summary
Bournemouth is well-started, pushing the pitch high, forcing Edason to a long pass or dangerous short ball that left him behind, facing within his penalty area.
However, there was an early warning sign when Haaland missed a big head chance 10 minutes later, just before Adams admitted the penalty. Bernardo Silva tried to drop the ball into a dangerous area, so the Americans were caught raising his hand, but there was no protest when referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the scene.
Luckily for Adams, he speculated that Kepa was right and rejected Haaland from 12 yards. Soon after, another opportunity for Haaland was in vain as he lifted the ball over both the Kepa and the Bar.
City’s complaints only grew when Evanilson opened up the score. Matheus Nunes handed out his possessions on a careless pass within half of City, Brooks dropped the cloth into a box, and Kluivert came across it on the Far Post. His efforts were already on the way, but Evanilson assured that Kusanov had surpassed it before it was cleared.
Bournemouth threatened once again before halftime, despite the city’s control of ownership. Brooks glanced at Ilkay Gandogan’s head and slightly missed the bottom corner of Edason’s goal.
At halftime, Pep Guardiola made an impactful change, bringing the booked Kusanov Nico O’Reilly, deploying the academy alumni with a license to advance left-handed alumni, moving Gvaldior to the centre of defense. The switch was quickly rewarded as O’Reilly found space in half of Bournemouth, delivered a low cross to the far post, and set up Haaland for a quick finish.
City then took the lead shortly after the hour mark, and O’Reilly was once again at the center of it. After winning a duel with Semenyo at the edge of the Bournemouth area, he realized that he would slide the pass down the path of Marmouche. The January signature finish was far from perfect, but still managed to sneak up under Kepa’s body and into the net.
With Bournemouth exhausted its energy in the second half, it seemed City was far more likely to score a third than admitting an equalizer. Gundogan hit the post so Kepa had to respond quickly and James McAtee refused from close range.
City’s red chance
It was a very overwhelming season for the Premier League champions, not only were they knocked out of the Champions League, but they were uncertain about competing in the next competition, and currently sitting fifth in the English top flight table. It may prove to be sufficient at the end of the season, but there is still a way to go, and looking over the shoulder, Newcastle (there is a match) and Brighton are just one point behind. Their chances to defend the title are really gone, with leader Liverpool 22 points ahead.
Therefore, the FA Cup remains the only realistic opportunity for the trophies of Guardiola and his men, the term.
The semi-finals, on the other hand, present a difficult challenge as they face Nottingham Forest, who is not only on top of the city in their current Premier League standings, but also beating them on the City Ground earlier this month. Meanwhile, that desire for defeat and revenge may prove Sky Blues’ sufficient motivation. After all, they were beaten in the league by Bournemouth as well, and now have some satisfaction with Cherry.
Speaking of Bournemouth, they were one of the more enjoyable surprises of their season in the UK, but their drive is disappearing. They didn’t win any of the last four league outings, but they scored just one point on that stretch.
Not long ago, Iraara’s team appeared as serious contenders for the Champions League qualification itself, but now they’re sitting in 10th place, only 4 points apart, while only 5 points apart in the fourth, it’s worth noting that Newcastle, Brighton, Aston Villa and Fulham are all wedges inside.