
Manchester City qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Tuesday evening. Pep Guardiola’s team did not have an easy evening visiting Peterborough United, the last number in the Championship. However, Peterborough’s resistance was broken in the second half: 0-2. Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish scored the goals. Crystal Palace won 2-1 against Stoke City with a goal from Jairo Riedewald and also reached the quarter-finals.
Oleksandr Zinchenko wore the captain’s armband with Manchester City at Weston Homes Stadium. Fernandinho was actually the captain, but he insisted that Zinchenko lead the squad: it was a show of support for the midfielder whose country is ravaged by Russia’s military. Before the game, the captains of both clubs displayed a flag of Ukraine, while supporters of Peterborough United showed a banner that read: ‘Zinchenko: We Stand With You.’
Those same supporters had long had the prospect of a stunt by their team, because Manchester City did not impress in the first hour of the game. Although the visitors had a predominance of ball possession, it was apparently not too difficult for Peterborough to keep a clean sheet in the first half. In fact, the home side were close to the opening goal early in the game. Jeando Fuchs ducked behind Nathan Aké and saw Ederson save on his deflected shot.
Manchester City, which started with six new players compared to the won league match against Everton (0-1), broke the ban after an hour of play. Mahrez received the ball on the right side of the penalty area from Phil Foden, drew in and found space with his left leg for a well-placed shot into the far corner. With a stunning pass from the halfway line, Foden also provided the 0-2 assist, serving Grealish, who deftly carried the ball into the penalty area and scored the last goal of the game.
Crystal Palace – Stoke City 2-1
Riedewald came in in minute 78 and scored the winning goal within four minutes. The substitute received the ball on the edge of the penalty area after a corner kicked off, checked with his chest and shot against the left corner in a crowded penalty area. By the way, all the goals came in the second half. Cheikhou Kouyaté opened the scoring seven minutes after the break. After an incorrectly awarded corner, which was taken shortly, Kouyaté was in the right place just in front of the goal to make the 1-0. Josh Tymon made it 1-1 after some good preparatory work by Romaine Sawyers at the back line, before Riedewald determined the final score.