Manchester City narrowly avoided a major upset in the FA Cup fourth round, edging past League One side Leyton Orient 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Kevin De Bruyne. The Premier League champions were given a scare by a spirited Orient side, who took the lead through a wonder-strike from Jamie Donley.2
City, who fielded a strong lineup despite making eight changes from their previous match, struggled to break down a resilient Orient defense. They eventually equalised through a deflected Abdukodir Khusanov effort, before De Bruyne’s late winner spared their blushes and secured their place in the fifth round.
Orient’s Impressive Performance
Leyton Orient, who are enjoying a successful season under manager Richie Wellens, produced a performance full of energy and determination. They took the lead with a spectacular long-range goal from Donley and defended resolutely to frustrate their more illustrious opponents.
Manchester City’s struggles this season continued, with their performance against Orient far from convincing. They lacked fluency in attack and were vulnerable on the counter-attack, highlighting their defensive frailties.
Late Drama
City’s late winner came as a relief to manager Pep Guardiola, who saw his team struggle to break down Orient’s stubborn defense. De Bruyne’s clinical finish, after being set up by Jack Grealish, spared City the prospect of extra time and a potential upset.
Manchester City will now await the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup as they look to continue their quest for silverware. They will need to improve their performances if they are to challenge for trophies this season.
Leyton Orient, meanwhile, can take pride in their performance against the Premier League champions. They pushed City all the way and will now turn their attention back to their League One campaign, where they are aiming for promotion to the Championship.
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