Manchester City put on a sublime second-half performance as they produced one of the high-scoring football scores of the weekend in the FA Cup. Raheem Sterling put the away side in front in the 12th minute before Aymeric Laporte’s own goal gave the home side hope just before the break. Kevin De Bruyne put City ahead in the 62nd minute from the penalty spot before Phil Foden doubled their advantage in the 75th minute. Riyad Mahrez came off the bench to score their fourth goal in the 78th minute.
Player ratings:
Southampton: Forster (6), Livramento (5), Stephens (5), Salisu (5), Walker-Peters (6), Romeu (6), Ward-Prowse (6), S. Armstrong (6), Elyounoussi (7), Long (6), A. Armstrong (6).
Subs: Diallo (n/a), Smallbone (n/a), Djenepo (n/a), Adams (6), Broja (6).
Manchester City: Steffen (7), Walker (7), Stones (7), Laporte (7), Cancelo (7), Rodri (7), De Bruyne (8), Gundogan (7), Jesus (7), Sterling (8), Grealish (6).
Subs:Ake (n/a), Zinchenko (n/a), Fernandinho (n/a), Mahrez (8), Foden (8).
Man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne
Managers Reaction
Man City boss Pep Guardiola: “We started really well and then we forgot to play, knowing that it’s so difficult because Southampton is one of the most organized teams we’ve faced this season, they push you with incredible intensity. The goal we conceded was a consequence of that. The second half was much better, they had a chance for Che Adams when it was 2-1, but the quality we had upfront made the difference.”
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl: “The goal when you’re playing such a game is to make it as difficult as possible, to let them struggle a little bit and that everything works perfectly then you have a chance to take the game. Two games this season against them we have taken a point, I think today we didn’t have a perfect game. I must say that we have played much better than the last home game against them when we drew.”
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