Nico O'Reilly provided two assists from the bench as Manchester City came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
2024/2025 FA Cup
1-2
Match Report
Nico O'Reilly assists two goals as Pep Guardiola's men come from behind to book FA Cup semi-final spot after Erling Haaland's first-half penalty miss.
Youngster O'Reilly scored twice in City's win over Plymouth Argyle in round five, but had to settle for a place on the bench at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
However, he played a key role after coming on at half-time, swiftly teeing up Erling Haaland's equaliser then supplying a cute reverse pass from which fellow substitute Omar Marmoush scored the winner.
City had been gifted an early penalty when Tyler Adams handled in Bournemouth's box, only for Haaland to fluff his lines from 12 yards, sending a tame effort at Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Haaland saw another great chance go begging when he lobbed over when one-on-one with Kepa soon after, and City's frustration was compounded as Bournemouth went ahead in the 21st minute – Evanilson tapping home following a bad giveaway from Matheus Nunes.
Yet Pep Guardiola's introduction of O'Reilly in place of Abdukodir Khusanov sparked City back into life.
O'Reilly got in down the left and crossed for Haaland to tuck in at the back post four minutes after the restart, before Marmoush slotted under Kepa after some brilliant play from the 20-year-old on the edge of the area.
3 - Erling Haaland is the first player to score 30+ goals in all competitions in each of his first three seasons while playing for Premier League clubs since Ruud van Nistelrooy for Man Utd from 2001-02 to 2003-04. Guarantee. pic.twitter.com/qemReaDxr7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 30, 2025
Ilkay Gundogan clipped the woodwork as City searched for a third, though the visitors were not made to pay for that miss as they booked their place in the last four for a seventh straight campaign.
Last year's runners-up will take on Nottingham Forest at Wembley for a place in the final.
Data Debrief: Life of O'Reilly
O'Reilly led the charge as City turned the tie around, providing his first assists for the club in the process.
He became the first City substitute to assist two goals in a game since Gundogan did so against Leeds United in December 2021, while he joined Jack Clarke on five goal contributions in this season's FA Cup, with the duo having played a part in more strikes than any other Premier League players.
His first assist set up Haaland to become the first player to score 30+ goals in all competitions in each of his first three seasons while playing for a Premier League club since Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United, from 2001-02 to 2003-04.
Marmoush, meanwhile, now has 34 goal involvements in all competitions this season, including his time at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Excluding penalties, among players in Europe's big five leagues, only Raphinha (44), Mohamed Salah (43), and Ousmane Dembele (35) have more goal contributions than the Egyptian.
City will consider this a win that was firmly deserved. They finished up with 17 shots, getting seven of those on target, and accumulating 3.43 expected goals (xG) to Bournemouth's 1.67, with the Cherries managing just five attempts.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Ederson clears the ball, his boot follow through into Evanilson's nether regions
10' Nunes fires a cross straight to Haaland but his header goes wide
14' Penalty missed! Haaland strokes the ball to keeper's left and it's held by Kepa!
15' Haaland dinks the bouncing ball over Kepa but it doesn't come down in time
18' Semenyo dispossesses Nunes and then dribbles for 50 yards but his shot is high
21' Evanilson has the ball in net as Kluivert assists! Bournemouth 1-0 Man City
24' Haaland controls the ball and lays it off for Gundogan but his shot is saved
37' Khusanov is booked yellow as he tripps down Kluivert
46' O'Reilly on, Khusanov off
47' Foden's shot is caught by Kepa
49' Haaland equalizes for City as O'Reilly assists! Bournemouth 1-1 Man City
58' Haaland is taking treatment as he collids with the advertising board
61' Haaland is replaced by Marmoush due to injury
64' O'Reilly picks up Marmoush who shoots under Kepa! Bournemouth 1-2 Man City
68' Grealish on, Foden off
81' Grealish rolls the ball back to Gundogan but his shot hits the far post
83' Gundogan and Kovacic to be replaced by Nico and James McAtee
Line-ups
Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Brooks, Adams, Kluivert, Marcos Senesi, Evanilson, Antoine Semenyo, Ilya Zabarnyi, Julio Soler
Subs: Smith, James Hill, Will Dennis, Daniel Jebbison, Alex Scott, Dango Ouattara, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Matai Akinmboni, Ben Winterburn
Man City XI: Gundogan, De Bruyne, Kovacic, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Foden, Matheus Nunes, Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov
Subs: Ortega, Grealish, Omar Marmoush, Nico González, Doku, McAtee, Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Vitor Reis