Newport 1-4 Man City: Phil Foden double helps City into FA Cup quarter-finals - BBC Sport
Phil Foden scores twice as Manchester City avoid an FA Cup upset by beating a stubborn Newport County to reach the quarter-finals.
Last updated on .From the section FA Cup

Manchester City reached the FA Cup quarter-finals as they broke Newport County's resistance to end the League Two side's memorable run in this season's competition.

Newport, fresh from beating Leicester City and Middlesbrough, produced another strong display in the competition to hold Pep Guardiola's men at the interval.

But two Phil Foden goals and strikes from Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez ended Newport's hopes and denied them the chance to become the first side from the fourth tier to reach the last eight since 1990.

The Welsh side even missed the best chance of the first half, when Ederson produced a diving save to deny Tyreeq Bakinson's close-range header.

The second half belonged to the visitors as Sane broke the deadlock from close range six minutes after half time.

Foden doubled the advantage with an excellent dribble and finish, before Padraig Amond scored a late goal that gave the hosts brief hope of a fightback - and maintained his record of scoring in every round of the competition.

However, Foden ensured there was no grandstand finish with his second goal moments later and Mahrez scored a fourth in injury time.

Newport County's fans gave their side a standing ovation at full time as their weary players did a lap of honour.

There was no overstating the gulf between these two clubs - Newport, with a squad value totalling £70,000, against Manchester City, the world's most richly-assembled squad at around £450m.

When Sergio Aguero was scoring the most famous goal in the history of the Premier League to fire Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012, Newport were still floundering in non-league.

The Exiles, so named because of a nomadic existence that saw them playing in Gloucestershire post-1989 when the original club went bust, have fought and scraped simply to return to the Football League's lower reaches, where they are 15th in League Two.

They have been the story of this season's competition, having stunned Premier League Leicester City and Championship Middlesbrough in rounds three and four.

And, against all the odds, there seemed a chance that run might continue when Mickey Demetriou's long throw was flicked on in the 15th minute, only for Ederson to superbly claw away Bakinson's point-blank header from six yards.

County were a menace from long throws and Joss Labadie fired wide from another of them, but the second period became a prolonged exercise in defending for the League Two side.

They did, however, give their fans a moment to savour when a long ball in the 88th minute caught City cold and allowed Amond to clip home and raise the roof in Newport.

City's consistency this term means they are still fighting for trophies on four fronts, with the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea to come next week for the Premier League leaders, who are still in the Champions League and who have been in fine form throughout 2019.

After 25 minutes of their last Premier League game against Chelsea, Guardiola's men were 4-0 ahead, but Newport provided far stiffer resistance against their irresistible attacking talents.

The visitors were largely restricted to long-range efforts in the first half, with Mahrez forcing Day to smother and Fernandinho and Danilo shooting wide of the target.

Not until the 35th minute when Sane hit the bar from a smart one-two did City look like breaking the deadlock, and Newport held firm until the interval despite Mark O'Brien appearing to block a Sane shot with his arm.

Sane was increasingly the most likely player to create a chance and on 51 minutes his fierce drive deflected in off Day's face as Newport's resistance was broken.

Danilo struck a post as City pushed for a second to make the game safe, before Foden capped an impressive display by firing past Day at his near post with the ball going through the Newport goalkeeper's hands.

City might have wobbled after Amond's goal but Foden swept home less than a minute later, with Mahrez adding a late fourth that flattered the visitors.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were calm in the second half and we made an incredible performance considering the conditions.

"David Silva is incredible, 33 years old and he fights and plays with this kind of level. David is a fantastic player, what can I add more about his qualities?

"What we have done so far is try to go game by game and try to win so the way you have to play against Chelsea at home is completely different to the game here.

"We will see in May and June how we do but it is important to be there in all competitions in February. The result will be shown at the end and now we have to recover and prepare for our trip to Germany [to face Schalke in the Champions League]."

Newport manager Michael Flynn speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm very proud of the team they were outstanding. I am disappointed with the two goals conceded in injury time, because at 2-1 you have a grandstand finish, for something to fall your way and you are coming back from 2-0 against one of the best teams in Europe. There is no disgrace in losing they have beat bigger clubs by more.

"I have got a very good group of players and I can't speak highly enough of them. We need to move on now - we have a tough game on Tuesday in the league. I'll give a tap on the back for them and then we go back to work."
• None Man City have reached the FA Cup quarter-final for the 25th occasion and for the first time since 2016-17.
• None Newport have lost just two of their last 12 FA Cup matches (W7 D3), with each defeat coming against one of the Premier League's 'big six' sides (also Spurs in 17-18).
• None Newport County have lost both of their FA Cup fifth-round ties, also falling to defeat against Portsmouth in 1949.
• None Man City's Leroy Sane has had a hand in 25 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions this season (12 goals, 13 assists), including registering nine goal involvements in his last eight.
• None Man City's Gabriel Jesus has been directly involved in 21 goals in 34 games this season (16 goals, 5 assists), one more than he managed in 42 games last season (17 goals, 3 assists).
• None All five of Phil Foden's Man City goals have come in domestic cup competitions (3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup).
• None Newport's Padraig Amond has scored five goals in this season's FA Cup, more than any other player. The striker scored in each of the first five rounds of the competition this term.
• None Newport's Joe Day has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the FA Cup this season (24).
• None Goal! Newport County 1, Manchester City 4. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by John Stones.
• None Attempt blocked. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Goal! Newport County 1, Manchester City 3. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Leroy Sané.
• None Goal! Newport County 1, Manchester City 2. Padraig Amond (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
• None Offside, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez tries a through ball, but Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.
• None Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.
• None Attempt saved. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Phil Foden.
• None Goal! Newport County 0, Manchester City 2. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
• None Attempt saved. Mark O'Brien (Newport County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mickey Demetriou with a headed pass. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page