Pep Guardiola had to rely on Manchester City’s big weapons to prevent them from suffering from a large FA cup upset on Leyton Orient this afternoon.
The One Led Championship led for 40 minutes after Stefan Ortega’s goal, but a lucky balancer followed by a piece of brilliance by Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne saw the city squeeze.
Guardiola called a very changing series that included Vitor Reis’s debut and Nico Gonzalez, but both suffered a tiring hour with the former to leave the break and Gonzalez fell after 22 minutes.
The latter was injured after his launch in the accumulation of Orient’s goal, losing Sonny Perkins and allowed Jamie Donley to attempt an ambitious 45-yard chip over Ortega.
The ball cut the bottom of the bar and then hit the German German on the feet before crossing the line.
The city offered fleeting moments through a response before their luck changed 11 minutes in the second half when the ball hit the deputy Abdukodir Khusanov and entered.
And the city, watched by guitarist Oasis Noel Gallagher, then grabbed the Belgian De Bruyne Star court.
Almost direct impact by Kevin de Bruyne !!! 💥
City of lead! pic.twitter.com/pn2kvtdtev
– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 8 February 2025
The initial defender Dan Happe should have balanced in the last minute, but a high volleyball and wide from six meters.
Town that rocked
The first semester could not get better for boss Richie Wellens and orientation with the homeland that could overcome any threat from the Premier League champions while looking for a persistent threat on the bench.
Orient could proceed from their first serious attack after three minutes. Live Charlie Kelman played Jack Currie under the left and his low cross was partly confronted by Nico O’Reilly before the referee blasted a foul.
The city responded with Ilkay Gundogan somehow hitting his plan in front of an open goal after nine minutes.
The East found plenty of joy when they came forward and Kelman was found clean in five minutes later, but a heavy touch pushed him wide, allowing Ortega to make a strong savings.
The German was not so lucky since the next Orient attack, as the hosts made a shock. Perkins’ challenge for Gonzalez in the middle part was considered fair by referee Darren Bond and the ball fell to Donley who produced a moment of magic.
Leyton Orient 💫💫💫 magical moment 💫💫💫 pic.twitter.com/pmrpp0b9li
– Matching the day (@BBCMOTD) 8 February 2025
The city ran and was inflated in search of an equalizer, but did not have its physical presence missing Erling Haaland.
Donley closed that Bernardo Silva shot from the line and Omar Marmoush threw a volleyball from his heel, allowing the home holder Josh Keeley to do a routine besides.
Half changes have an impact
Guardiola’s half -time changes with Khusanov and John Stones who come offered to visitors a larger level of stability at the rear and with the Orient seemingly happier to sit, were the Premier League side that began to dominate.
Gundogan saw a blocked shot, like Marmoush, while James Mcatee’s effort hit the outside of the right position.
Keeley produced a brilliant storage to keep out a Gundogan shooting after 63 minutes, diving low to his left to parry the ball clean.
The crushed crowd at home had fallen quiet as if it felt that an equalizer was coming and it was duly from the corner that emerged.
A short routine saw the fall of the ball on the Rico Lewis on the edge of the area and his shot hit Khusanov and with the wrong Keeley on his way.
Manchester City is flat! pic.twitter.com/yigeyyyykpq
– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 8 February 2025
Guardiola called De Bruyne and Phil Foden after 71 minutes and didn’t take long to make his sign.
Grealish, who impressed his return to the original line, played a wonderful ball on the left channel and De Bruyne capitalized with a one -time Keeley hesitation to stick the ball over the goalkeeper.
