Manchester City Overpowers Salford City 8-0 in FA Cup with Stunning Performance
On January 11, 2025, Manchester City delivered a stunning 8-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup third round, a match that highlighted their attacking dominance and saw some remarkable individual performances. The Etihad Stadium witnessed a thrilling display as City dispatched the League Two side in a one-sided encounter, their largest margin of victory since January 2019.
The match began with Manchester City asserting their authority early. Just 8 minutes into the game, Jeremy Doku opened the scoring with a well-taken goal. The Belgian winger doubled his tally with a penalty in the 69th minute, adding to the relentless pressure City was applying. By halftime, the score stood at 3-0, with Doku, Divin Mubama, and Nico O'Reilly having all found the net for the home side. Mubama, making his debut for City, tapped in a precise low cross from Matheus Nunes, while O'Reilly marked his first goal for the club with a fine strike into the far corner following a cut-back from Doku.
The second half saw City take complete control, with Jack Grealish scoring his first goal in over a year in the 49th minute. It was a penalty, awarded after Grealish was fouled in the box, and he made no mistake from the spot. Grealish had been struggling for form this season, but the goal was a much-needed confidence booster for the England international.
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Not long after, James McAtee stole the spotlight, scoring a remarkable hat-trick in just 19 minutes. McAtee, who had been underutilized this season despite his talent, was the beneficiary of some excellent build-up play. His first came in the 62nd minute, with a composed finish following a Doku assist. McAtee completed his hat-trick with two more goals, the first coming from a Phil Foden pass in the 72nd minute, and the second from a Grealish assist in the 81st minute.
For Salford City, it was a tough day at the office. Despite a brave effort, they were outclassed by a team many divisions above them. Salford’s famous owners, the 'Class of 92'—including Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, and Paul Scholes—watched from the stands, but they couldn’t do much to change the course of the match. Though Salford showed moments of promise, such as a missed opportunity from Kylian Kouassi, they were ultimately overwhelmed by City’s superior quality.
Salford’s manager, Karl Robinson, joked after the match about conceding eight goals, acknowledging the scale of the defeat. He also humorously mentioned that if someone had told him they would concede eight in seven games, he would have been okay with it—just not in one match.
For City, it was a much-needed boost, especially for players like Grealish, who had struggled with form. Guardiola was pleased with the win but focused on the bigger picture of reshaping his squad as he awaits new signings, including a potential transfer for Uzbekistan's Abdukodir Khusanov. As for McAtee, Guardiola spoke highly of him, calling him a "special player" and expressing how happy he was to see him flourish.
Manchester City's commanding 8-0 victory was a stark reminder of their quality, while Salford City will need to regroup after this humbling loss. The game also marked a turning point for some City players, especially Jack Grealish, whose goal could be the catalyst for a resurgence in form. As City progresses to the fourth round of the FA Cup, they will look to build on this dominant display and continue their quest for more silverware.
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