Manchester City survived a massive scare to defeat a spirited Leyton Orient side 2-1 and book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
After Manchester United benefitted from the absence of VAR on Friday night against Leicester City, Pep Guardiola's side were left to bemoan the having no technology in operation before one of the most incredible FA Cup goals in recent memory.
City's pleas for a foul on new boy Nico Gonzalez went unanswered before Jamie Donley's outrageous 45-yard strike cannoned off the crossbar, hit Stefan Ortega's backside and trickled into the back of the net to give Richie Wellens's men a shock lead.
The League One side were remarkably not short of chances to increase their advantage, but they also needed some last-ditch defensive interventions to go into half time 1-0 up, and their defence was finally breached early in the second half as Abdukodir Khusanov scored a fortunate first goal for his new club.
Leyton Orient still believed in the giant killing dream, but substitute Kevin De Bruyne had the final say 11 minutes from time, and the hosts' desperate late attempts for a leveller were in vain.
Thanks to their comeback triumph, Man City have extended an all-time FA Cup record; they have won each of their last 18 games in the competition against lower-league teams, the longest streak of any top-flight club in history.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
In a season of low ebbs for Manchester City, Saturday's fourth-round tie had the potential to be the lowest one yet, and there could arguably have been few complaints from the Premier League champions based on their timid first-half display.
That is not to say that the Citizens were starved of their chances, but their third-tier hosts were equally - if not more - threatening in the final third, even if Donley and co were still star-struck in the wake of their extraordinary opening goal.
However, as the clock ticked down in the second half, the gulf in quality between both sets of benches became apparent; while Man City were able to bring on Phil Foden and De Bruyne - admittedly an ageing De Bruyne - their hosts sent on Darren Pratley, two months shy of his 40th birthday.
De Bruyne's City cycle may be coming to its natural end, but the Belgian's delicate touch inside the box remains very much alive, and Grealish's exquisite assist for the winner represents a rare positive in a dismal season for the £100m man too.
Avoiding extra time and penalties before Real Madrid was surely at the forefront of Guardiola's mind, but this is another performance that arguably leaves more questions than answers, while not a single Leyton Orient player should go to bed dissatisfied with their valiant efforts.
LEYTON ORIENT VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Stefan Ortega own goal vs. Man City (16th min, Leyton Orient 1-0 Man City)
JAMIE DONLEY. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 8, 2025
The @SpursOfficial loanee with an incredible effort from distance that ends up in the net to give @leytonorientfc the opening goal against Manchester City 😱#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/bHnKg92Q2y
One of the most unbelievable own goals we will ever witness!
Gonzalez is bundled over by Sonny Perkins, but referee Darren Bond sees nothing wrong with the challenge, and Donley immediately tries his luck with a hit-and-hope from close to the halfway line.
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee's sensational strike sails over a scrambling Ortega and crashes the crossbar, before the rebound hits the goalkeeper's backside and ends up in the back of the net!
City are not happy - they felt that Perkins fouled Gonzalez, who has to go off injured soon after - but with no VAR in operation, Leyton Orient's freak opener will stand.
Donley wheels off in celebration of course, but the one downer for Leyton Orient is that their opener will officially go down as an Ortega own goal.
Abdukodir Khusanov goal vs. Leyton Orient (56th min, Leyton Orient 1-1 Man City)
He didn't know much about it, but Abdukodir Khusanov has his first @ManCity goal 🇺🇿#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yJc0V3CCbY
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 8, 2025
The visitors' pressure finally tells, albeit in highly fortuitous circumstances!
Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley does brilliantly to thwart Omar Marmoush twice, but from the resulting short corner, Rico Lewis's 25-yard drive deflects into the bottom corner via the back of Khusanov.
An unorthodox first Man City goal for the Uzbekistan international, but a potentially pivotal one!
Kevin De Bruyne goal vs. Leyton Orient (79th min, Leyton Orient 1-2 Man City)
A moment of quality from @ManCity ✨@JackGrealish with a beautiful ball through, and @KevinDeBruyne finishes with the dink 🤌#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kAAhT3ileb
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 8, 2025
Comeback complete.
Man City just had a very good reason to feel aggrieved - Leyton Orient's Brandon Cooper escaped a possible red card for a foul on Marmoush - but the Citizens' frowns have now been turned upside down.
Jack Grealish picks out the run of De Bruyne into the left-hand side of the box, and the Belgian latches onto his teammate's delicate ball over the top before toe-poking the ball past an onrushing Keele.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOSH KEELEY
© Imago
An honourable mention for the effervescent Donley - who may have a bright future ahead of him at Tottenham Hotspur - but Leyton Orient's number one Keeley allowed his side to dream of a magnificent 'cupset'.
The 21-year-old pulled off seven saves - six of which came from inside the box - although there is an argument that his slight hesitation before De Bruyne's goal proved costly.
LEYTON ORIENT VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Leyton Orient 27%-73% Man City
Shots: Leyton Orient 13-24 Man City
Shots on target: Leyton Orient 3-10 Man City
Corners: Leyton Orient 2-10 Man City
Fouls: Leyton Orient 10-5 Man City
BEST STATS
Jamie Donley's first half by numbers vs. Man City:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 8, 2025
22 touches
7/10 passes completed
4x possession won
2 shots
2 blocks
2 interceptions
1 shot on target
1 clearance off the line
1 outrageous effort off the crossbar
Denied an all-time great FA Cup goal. 😲 pic.twitter.com/bBmlUulPgi
26 – Since his debut in the competition in January 2016, no player has been involved in more goals in the FA Cup proper than Kevin De Bruyne (26 – 9 goals, 17 assists). Magic. pic.twitter.com/1bheTVpabe
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 8, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
A much-improved performance will be required from Man City if they are to earn a first-leg advantage over Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League playoff, which comes four days before a Premier League home showdown against Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Leyton Orient have plenty of positives to take into Tuesday's League One home clash against Mansfield Town, as Wellens's side resume their quest for promotion to the Championship.
Ben Knapton
