A stunning display from 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly propelled Manchester City into the FA Cup quarter-finals, overturning a shock deficit against Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City, the overwhelming favorites, were left reeling when Plymouth’s Maksym Talovierov headed home in the 38th minute, sending shockwaves through the home crowd.
However, O’Reilly, playing an unfamiliar left-back role, stepped up with two crucial headers to rescue Pep Guardiola’s side.
Guardiola, visibly impressed, lauded O’Reilly’s “big presence” after the match. “Sometimes you take a good decision, otherwise, he would not score two goals,” Guardiola said, referring to City’s decision to retain the academy product amidst January interest from Chelsea.
“He’s not a typical player from the academy because, all the academy players, they are so small. But he has a big, big presence.”
O’Reilly’s first goal came from a trademark Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, the teenager rising highest to nod home just before halftime.
He repeated the feat in the second half, this time connecting with a Phil Foden corner to put City ahead with 14 minutes remaining. De Bruyne sealed the victory with a late third goal, securing a 3-1 win for the home side.
“I thought it was a great game, we’re happy to get the win and I’m buzzing to get the two goals as well,” O’Reilly said. “I am so happy to help my team out and into the quarter-finals. It’s an amazing feeling to have the trust from the manager and also my team-mates.”
This marks O’Reilly’s ninth appearance of a breakthrough season, and his third goal in the competition, having also scored in the third-round victory over Salford.
With the FA Cup representing City’s only remaining chance for domestic silverware, O’Reilly’s contribution is proving invaluable.
Plymouth, despite the defeat, can hold their heads high after a spirited performance. Their journey to the fifth round, which included victories over Premier League side Brentford and Liverpool, was a testament to their resilience.
Central to Plymouth’s impressive display was Ukrainian defender Maksym Talovierov, whose powerful header opened the scoring.
Manager Miron Muslic praised Talovierov’s “big heart” and “passion,” acknowledging the player’s difficult circumstances amid the ongoing war in his homeland. “Sport and football just gives him an escape. I think you saw him here, he played like a champion,” Muslic said.
