Manchester City advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, keeping their trophy hopes alive, after coming from behind to defeat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, March 30th. Substitute Nico O’Reilly provided two crucial assists, but the victory was marred by an injury to striker Erling Haaland.
Bournemouth, buoyed by their home support, started intensely and took a deserved lead in the 21st minute. Evanilson scrambled the ball home after defensive errors from Matheus Nunes allowed Bournemouth to capitalize. City struggled for rhythm in the first half, with Erling Haaland missing several chances, including having a penalty saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Facing the prospect of a trophyless season for the first time since his debut campaign (2016-17), manager Pep Guardiola made a decisive tactical change at halftime, introducing 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly for the struggling Abdukodir Khusanov and shifting Josko Gvardiol to centre-back.
The substitution paid immediate dividends. Four minutes into the second half, O’Reilly, operating from left-back, delivered a perfect cross for Haaland to equalize at the far post.
However, Haaland’s contribution was cut short. Around the hour mark, he appeared to twist his ankle in a tangle with Lewis Cook and was forced off, replaced by Omar Marmoush.
City completed the turnaround in the 63rd minute. O’Reilly was again the provider, playing in Marmoush, whose strike squeezed under Kepa, who arguably should have done better.
Despite Bournemouth’s spirited first-half performance, City’s quality and Guardiola’s tactical adjustments proved decisive in the second half. The Cherries, missing suspended defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen, faded as the game progressed.
While Guardiola insists even an FA Cup win wouldn’t fully salvage a season deemed mediocre by City’s high standards, his animated presence on the touchline underlined his desire to secure the trophy. The victory, however potentially costly due to Haaland’s injury, sets up an FA Cup semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.
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