Everton 0-2 Man City: goals from Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne keep quadruple hopes alive

Late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne broke Everton’s resistance as Manchester City kept their quest for the quad on course by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive season.

Despite dominating possession at Goodison Park, City struggled in front of goal for most of the game, with a shot from Raheem Sterling that Everton’s third-choice goalkeeper Joao Virginia finished off the post.

After Pep Guardiola brought in Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne, they finally broke Everton’s well-organized defense when Gudogan headed in with six minutes to go after a shot from Aymeric Laporte crashed off the crossbar.

Then De Bruyne fired a crisp shot to secure his progress in the 90th minute, meaning City have won 25 of their last 26 games in all competitions.

For Everton, who continued to threaten despite having little ball, it was an excellent attempt to try to stop the City giant.

Despite missing a first FA Cup semi-final since 2016, they will now focus on their league campaign in an attempt to reach Europe next season.

Man City’s strength in depth makes the difference

City’s quest for an unprecedented quad has seemed fluid at times this season and the late substitutions demonstrated the arsenal they can turn to.

Having made it through the previous stages of the FA Cup, scoring three goals in each of the three previous rounds, Guardiola’s team struggled to bring down a determined Everton defense, who missed Michael Keane and Virginia did just his second start on goal due to injuries to Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen.

Phil Foden seemed more likely to make a breakthrough when he battled Lucas Digne on right wing, and perhaps he was too honest when he stood up while riding a Mason Holgate tackle in the first half. A brilliant shot and a shot from the winger that went inches from the post in the 65th minute.

City, who made six changes to the team that beat Borussia Mochengladach to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, did not bother Everton for much of the game despite dominating possession.

With the clock ticking on the final stages, and Everton digging in, Guardiola was able to bring in Mahrez and De Bruyne to change the game.

De Bruyne was involved in Gundogan’s first goal, when he entered the area before Laporte released, with the German midfielder nodding his head on his 16th goal in a brilliant season.

With Everton chasing a draw, the game opened, allowing De Bruyne to make City’s progress secure.

A third consecutive FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1934 is a great achievement, but Guardiola’s team will not be happy unless he finishes his campaign with silver.

Given that they are 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League and face Tottenham in next month’s League Cup final, a national treble is now one step closer.

Everton plan almost successful

Everton’s abject home form in the league has lost five of its last seven games but has been buoyed by FA Cup successes, including a thrilling 5-4 victory over Tottenham in the fifth round.

This was a more tactical battle, with the hosts choosing three center-backs and attempting to defeat a dominant Manchester City at half-time or via set pieces.

It’s a formula that has worked for Ancelotti’s team this season and after deep and patient defense they had the best chance of the first half when Mina’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by Oleksandr Zinchenko just before the match. break.

In the surprising absence of unused substitute Keane, the Colombian was colossal on defense, commanding Holgate and Ben Godfrey on either side of him, and Allan, who was also impressive in front of the baseline.

Given the threat of set pieces, it was the kind of performance that seemed like it could bring success, or at least take the game into extra time. From two centers, the ball fell to Richarlison, who fired wide when he was well positioned, while Andre Gomes hit a clean shot over the crossbar from outside the area.

As Everton grew weary, the difference in the respective teams’ benches became clear when Mahrez and De Bruyne were introduced to turn City’s tie around.

With Ancelotti’s team seventh in the Premier League, his quest for Europe will motivate a team that lost a seventh home game in 12 in all competitions.

However, Everton’s wait to win a trophy for the first time since 1995 continues.

Everton’s losing streak against Man City continues

• Everton have lost their last seven meetings with Manchester City in all competitions, their longest losing streak against an opponent since a nine-hitting streak against Manchester United between 1999 and 2004.
• Everton have lost five of their last six FA Cup games to other Premier League rivals.
• Everton’s possession figure of 26% was the lowest in a single game in all competitions since March 2018, when they recorded 18% against Manchester City in a Premier League match.
• Ilkay Gundogan has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season, at least three more than any Manchester City player. He has scored in three consecutive games for the Citizens for the first time.
• Kevin de Bruyne has been involved in nine goals in his last eight FA Cup appearances, scoring four and assisting five.

Whats Next?

After the international break, Everton return to Premier League action on Monday 5 April at home to Crystal Palace (18:00 BST). Manchester City trip to Leicester City on Saturday April 3 (5:30 pm).