Phil Foden struck twice as Manchester City eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 win in opposition to Bristol City, whereas 2021 winners Leicester suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in opposition to second tier Blackburn on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s facet have been by no means in peril of a giant-killing within the fifth spherical tie at Ashton Gate because of Foden’s brace and a late strike from Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola saluted the impression of England ahead Foden, who’s beginning to recapture his peak type after an inconsistent season.
“His profession was all the time up, up, up. This season he struggled a bit and was a bit down. But now he’s again for the perfect little bit of the season,” Guardiola said.
“His impact has been amazing. Football pays off when you work like he does.”
City will hope for one more enhance on Wednesday when Premier League leaders Arsenal, two factors forward of the champions, face Everton of their sport in hand.
“We’re nonetheless alive in three competitions. We’ll see what occurs sooner or later,” Guardiola said.
City took a seventh minute lead when Riyad Mahrez crossed to the far post, where Foden fired into the roof of the net.
Foden doubled City’s lead after 74 minutes as Julian Alvarez flicked towards Foden, who produced another clinical finish past Max O’Leary.
De Bruyne got the visitors’ third from long-range in the 81st minute to ensure the smoothest of nights for the six-time FA Cup winners.
Leicester were booed off after Blackburn ended the Foxes’ bid to reach a second FA Cup final in three seasons.
Brendan Rodgers led Leicester to the club’s first ever FA Cup triumph in 2021, but Rovers punished woeful defending from the Premier League side to shatter their hopes of emulating that run.
With Leicester 14th in the top-flight, just three points above the relegation zone, Rodgers made six changes to the side beaten by Arsenal at the weekend and paid the price for his gamble.
“If there’s anyone to blame it’s me. I made the changes and sadly it didn’t work,” Rodgers stated.
“We introduced 4 gamers into the beginning line up who received the FA Cup a few seasons in the past. But they have been higher than us and we’ve got to fret about that.”
Rovers, into the last eight for the first time since 2015, took the lead when Tyrhys Dolan curled home from the edge of the area in the 33rd minute.
Sammie Szmodics made it 2-0 seven minutes after the break following good work by Sam Gallagher.
Kelechi Iheanacho netted from Harvey Barnes’ pass in the 67th minute, but Blackburn held on.
Solomon strikes again
Manor Solomon scored for the fourth time in four game as Fulham beat Leeds 2-0 at Craven Cottage to make the last eight for the first time since 2010.
Fulham, who have exceeded all expectations to climb to sixth place in the Premier League this year, took the lead through Joao Palhinha’s superb 25-year curler in the 21st minute.
Israel forward Solomon, on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, finished off Leeds in the 56th minute, curling in from the edge of the area after playing a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Fulham can still dream of a first FA Cup final appearance since 1975.
But it was a first defeat for new Leeds boss Javi Gracia, whose side won 1-0 against fellow strugglers Southampton in the Premier League last weekend.
Brighton won 1-0 at second tier Stoke to reach the quarter-final for the third time in the last six seasons.
The Seagulls, who beat holders Liverpool in the fourth round, remain in the hunt for a first FA Cup final appearance since 1983.
Brighton landed the decisive blow in the 30th minute when teenage forward Evan Ferguson met Kaoru Mitoma’s pass with a close-range finish.
Among the four remaining fifth-round ties on Wednesday, League Cup winners Manchester United host West Ham, while Tottenham travel to Sheffield United.
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