O'Reilly delivers a double to help City rebound from early Argyle scare 

Teenage defender rises to rescue for Pep Guardiola's side who endure another nervy afternoon at the Etihad before making it to the last eight

NICO AND NICE: Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly (second right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

FA Cup fifth round: MAN CITY 3 PLYMOUTH 1 

TWO goals from young defender Nico O’Reilly continued Pep Guardiola’s impressive FA Cup track record although it was another tortured afternoon for Manchester City as they were forced to come from a goal down.

The 19-year-old, whose only other senior goal came against Salford in the third round, was on hand to shrug aside Jordan Houghton and head in Phil Foden’s 76th-minute corner from close range to make it 2-1. Plymouth players were unhappy, claiming Houghton had been fouled, but referee Craig Pawson, and his VAR saw no problem.

To heap injustice on Argyle in the 90th minute, Erling Haaland saw a shot saved but recovered the loose ball and crossed for Kevin De Bruyne to slide in a third goal.

City have reached the semi-finals in each of the past six seasons and now, thanks to O’Reilly, stand one game from arriving there for a seventh-consecutive year.

But they were made to work harder than might have been expected by a Plymouth side that is making a concerted effort to climb away from the Championship relegation zone under new manager Miron Muslic.

And incredibly, City contrived to fall behind in the tie, conceding to virtually Plymouth’s first attack of the game. In fact, Guardiola’s men had an 8-0 advantage in both shots and corners when the Championship strugglers won their first corner of the game, after debutant Vitor Reis deflected Nathaniel Ogbeta’s cross behind on 38 minutes.

Matt Sorinoka swung over a left-wing delivery and Ukrainian international Maksym Talovierov found enough space to rise unopposed and head into the goal from six yards.

The sizeable travelling contingent could scarcely believe their eyes and nor, it had to be said, could City supporters who, predictably, only had to wait until the first minute of injury-time to equalise.

Again, the goal came from a set-piece after Ogbeta conceded a free-kick outside the Plymouth area with a foul on James McAtee.

Kevin De Bruyne sent in one of his trademark, pinpoint crosses and teenage left-back Nico O’Reilly sprinted in front of his defender to head emphatically past Conor Hazard.

It was hardly a surprise, given City’s domination, although the closest they had come to a goal to that point was Ilkay Gundogan’s 28th minute strike that thudded against the right-hand upright.

With Jack Grealish making a rare start - just his fourth in City’s last 17 games - Guardiola appeared keen to involve the left winger at every available opportunity, with most moves passing through the former England man.

But not until going behind did City really show urgency with Reis heading just wide and De Bruyne’s low powerful shot being touched behind by Hazard in the moments before the equaliser.

The glut of City possession continued after the restart, with Hazard required to save well from Bernardo Silva after he connected with Gundogan’s cross.

By the time Rico Lewis sent a poor shot flying high over the goal, from a clever De Bruyne pass, Guardiola had seen enough and threw on Haaland as a 59th-minute substitute.

The pressure was relentless, particularly with Haaland now on, although he wasted his first big chance, hooking the ball over from six yards, and moments earlier, Hazard had made a spectacular flying save to keep out a long shot from De Bruyne who tried to catch the keeper out of position.

City might not have thought it was going to be their day when Hazard made a stunning point-blank stop to deny Haaland but, moments later, O’Reilly’s snatched the vital second City goal.

Man City (4-1-4-1): Ortega 5; Lewis 5, Reis 6, Ake 7 (Dias 46, 6), O’Reilly 8; Gundogan 7; Silva 6, McAtee 6 (Haaland 59, 7), De Bruyne 7, Grealish 6; Foden 6 (Gonzalez 83). Substitutes (not used) Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Doku, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes.

Plymouth (5-4-1): Hazard 9; Sorinola 7 (Szucs 80), Talovierov 7, Katic 7, Pleguezuelo 7, Ogbeta 6 (Puchacz 71, 5); Wright 6, Boateng 7, Gyabi 7 (Houghton 64, 5), Mumba 6 (Al Hajj 64, 5); Bundu 6 (Baidoo 64, 5). Substitutes (not used) Edwards, Grimshaw, Palsson, Roberts.

Referee: C Pawson 7