Manchester City beat a spirited Peterborough side 2-0 at ABAX Stadium to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The result was entirely predictable before the kickoff but the Premier League leaders were made to work hard before passing to the FA Cup quarter-finals. Individual moments of brilliance from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish saw off the Championship strugglers Peterborough, who had feared greater punishment but were never out of the game.
With Nathan Ake in defense alongside City’s captain Zinchenko, Peterborough sensed an opportunity to exploit, and it almost paid off early in the game as they fashioned the first chance. Peterborough should have taken the lead but Sammie Szmodics scuffed his attempt while Jeando Fuchs was denied expertly by Ederson.
Championship’s bottom club kept defying the odds to keep it goalless by halftime despite City dominating the possession on a deteriorating surface.
The pattern continued in the second half with Peterborough defending in numbers outside the box to keep things level until two moments of Manchester City class crushed their growing hopes of an FA Cup giant-killing.
Phil Foden provided his first assist of the game freeing Riyad Mahrez on the right side in the final third. The Algerian then curled the ball into the far corner after a couple of stepovers that left the defenders rooted to their spot in the 60th minute.
The ✨footwork✨@Mahrez22 always finds space.@ManCity #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/40eqIZuFct
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2022
Grealish then scored the team’s second goal only 9 minutes later to seal City’s progress into the next round. The Englishman expertly controlled a Phil Foden pass with his right foot before finishing it with his left to ease any concerns of a comeback.
Everything about this is just 🎯
(via @EmiratesFACup) pic.twitter.com/bweQKDobY8
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 1, 2022
Peterborough, who would have feared a much worse scoreline will not take plenty of confidence from this effort in a bid to stave off relegation. Manchester City will turn their attention to the Manchester derby on Sunday.
