Football: Manchester City 3 - 1 Plymouth Argyle
Manchester City can still finish this season with a trophy
Nico O'Reilly stepped up with a brace to spare his star-studded teammates' blushes and deny Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle another famous FA Cup upset.
For seven magical minutes, the 7,800 travelling Plymouth fans, who had embarked on the gruelling 560-mile round trip knowing they wouldn’t return home until the early hours of Sunday, dared to dream.
Their hopes soared when January signing Maksym Talovierov, whose parents live in Kyiv, rose highest to nod in Matthew Sorinola’s corner. As he looked to the skies in celebration, the jubilant Argyle supporters roared in belief.
Having already stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool in the fourth round, were Plymouth about to claim another giant-killing scalp?
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O'Reilly, with a little help from Kevin De Bruyne, had other ideas.
City v Plymouth highlights as they avoid an upset Footage from the official FA Cup YouTube account youtu.be/G7uvsKTlpmc?...
— Super News Affiliate (@sup3rnew5affiliate.bsky.social) 3 March 2025 at 17:30
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On the stroke of half-time, De Bruyne, the most prolific FA Cup playmaker since his debut in 2016, delivered a superb free-kick, which O'Reilly met with a well-placed header to level the score.
Then, with just 14 minutes remaining, after Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard had pulled off a stunning double save to deny Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, O'Reilly was in the right place at the far post to nod in Phil Foden’s corner.
It was a crushing blow for Plymouth, and their fate was sealed in the final minute when De Bruyne converted Haaland’s low cross from close range.
The result underlined City’s status as overwhelming favourites and keeps Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in the hunt for a third FA Cup triumph under his leadership.
De Bruyne shines again
#ManCity are ready to offer Kevin De Bruyne a 12-month contract extension but on a £150,000-a-week deal with a 'healthy' package of bonuses on top. [Simon Mullock, The Mirror]
— City Xtra (@cityxtra.bsky.social) 3 March 2025 at 16:12
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Manchester City remains uncertain. While Pep Guardiola suggested on Friday that he expects the 33-year-old to sign a new deal, nothing has been confirmed.
At times this season, De Bruyne has looked a shadow of the player who once dominated games. Last month, Guardiola left him on the bench for the entire second leg of City's crucial Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Yet, despite any dips in form, his ability to pick the perfect pass at the perfect moment remains undiminished. His game intelligence is still as sharp as ever.
Against a determined and well-drilled Plymouth side, those qualities were on full display. Argyle held firm for much of the game, but in the end, De Bruyne’s touch of class proved the difference.
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