Kevin De Bruyne made an eye-catching return and Phil Foden struck twice as holders Manchester City thrashed Huddersfield 5-0 in the FA Cup third round.
2023/2024 FA Cup
5-0
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' CLOSE! Alvarez’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!
13' Yellow Card! Alex Matos booked
19' Injured Akanji replaced by Nunes
31' Foden’s long shot inches wide!
33' GOAL! Man City 1-0 Huddersfield (Foden)
37' GOAL! Man City 2-0 Huddersfield (Julián Álvarez)
53' CLOSE! Bobb’s shot wide out
58' GOAL! Man City 3-0 Huddersfield (Oscar Bobb)
58' Sub! De Bruyne replaces Álvarez
66' GOAL! Man City 4-0 Huddersfield (Foden)
70' CLOSE! De Bruyne’s shot wide out
75' OWN GOAL! Man City 5-0 Huddersfield (Doku)
Match Report
Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku were also on target as City – further aided by an own goal – swept aside their Championship opponents in a one-sided third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The impact of the in-form Foden was again impressive but De Bruyne’s comeback, after five months out, was arguably of greater significance.
The Belgian was given just over half an hour at the end of the game and he marked the occasion by teeing up a goal for fellow returnee Doku.
His presence brought some of the biggest cheers of the afternoon from the home fans, whose noise was drowned out by that of the 6,000-strong visiting support early on.
Yet Huddersfield, not surprisingly given their struggles in the second tier this season, could not match the intensity of their fans as City, without hitting top gear, comfortably outplayed them.
The visitors resisted well for the opening half an hour, limiting Alvarez to a long-range shot which was comfortably saved by Lee Nicholls while Oscar Bobb had an effort unwittingly blocked by team-mate Rico Lewis.
The visitors showed some spirit by launching a handful of counter-attacks but the final ball was generally lacking.
Sorba Thomas did get through on goal on one occasion but he failed to beat Stefan Ortega and the offside flag indicated it would not have counted anyway.
City suffered a blow when Manuel Akanji limped off after a heavy challenge from Alex Matos, who was booked, but they soon began to step up the pressure.
Huddersfield were pegged back as Sergio Gomez had a low ball turned behind and a Foden shot was deflected to safety.
The opener came on 33 minutes as Mateo Kovacic slipped in Alvarez and his firm pass was well taken and rifled in by Foden at close range.
The second followed just four minutes later as Matheus Nunes linked with Foden and then found Lewis, who squared for Alvarez to stretch and poke home.
Bobb went close early in the second half as he cut inside but dragged his shot wide.
De Bruyne was introduced on 57 minutes in a double change that also saw Doku make his return from injury.
City claimed their third goal moments later as Nunes controlled a high ball and played wide to Bobb, whose attempted cross to De Bruyne at the far post flicked off Ben Jackson and looped into the net.
Huddersfield had a brief flurry as Thomas forced Ortega to save with his feet when through one on one but City’s fourth was not long in coming.
Again Foden did the damage, calmly stroking the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area from a well-worked short-corner routine.
De Bruyne created the fifth as he surged upfield, played a one-two with Bobb and then pulled the ball back for Doku to thump in on the half-volley.
Line-ups
Man City XI: Stefan Ortega, Kovacic, Grealish, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Foden, Sergio Gómez, Julián Álvarez, Josko Gvardiol, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis
Subs: Walker, De Bruyne, Ake, Ederson, Rodri, Matheus Nunes, Jérémy Doku, Micah Hamilton, Jacob Wright
Huddersfield XI: Tom Lees, Lee Nicholls, Michal Helik, Josh Koroma, Sorba Thomas, Ben Wiles, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jack Rudoni, Ben Jackson, Brodie Spencer, Alex Matos
Subs: Edwards, Bojan Radulovic, Josh Austerfield, Brahima Diarra, Loick Ayina, Giosue Bellagambi, Kyle Hudlin, Michael Stone, Tom Iorpenda