Man City crush Newport’s cup dream
Wellington Phoenix coach Mark Rudan wants more from his team, which was operating only at ‘‘70 per cent’’ in Friday night’s draw with Melbourne Victory.
While a point against the defending champions, who sit second on the ladder, is nothing to sniff at, the result means the Phoenix have won just one of their last six matches after winning five of seven in December and January.
It has been 10 games since they had more shots on target than an opponent – a rudimentary measure of quality – though they have still picked up 14 points in that time, against the odds.
Seventh-placed Newcastle Jets closed the gap on the Phoenix in sixth to six points with eight games to play with an upset win over Melbourne City, which will serve as a reminder there’s still plenty of work to do, starting on Saturday against Sydney across the Tasman.
The Jets result also means City remain level on points with the Phoenix, but ahead on goal difference.
Rudan’s men received another boost in the race for fourth and a home playoff when Western Sydney Wanderers beat Adelaide United, who remain just two Manchester City broke through Newport’s stubborn defence in the second half to beat the fourth-tier side 4-1 in the FA Cup yesterday, although the result wasn’t as straightforward as the scoreline suggested.
Newport’s hopes of an epic fifth-round upset were still intact when Padraig Amond pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 88th minute. But Phil Foden replied instantly with his second goal of the game and Riyad Mahrez added an injurytime score, allowing City to advance to the quarterfinals to keep Pep Guardiola’s side in the hunt for a possible four trophies.
Brighton and Millwall also advanced.
Brighton beat second-tier Derby 2-1, while Championship side Millwall overcame AFC Wimbledon 1-0.
City’s visit to South Wales had only one realistic outcome, but the win wasn’t quite as simple as most expected.
City entered the game as overwhelming favourites – especially after beating Chelsea 6-0 last weekend in the Premier League – but struggled to impose their usual attacking game on a pitch that contained points above them.
The Phoenix spurned a chance to go 2-0 up in front of a recordbreaking crowd at Eden Park in Auckland, when Roy Krishna’s shot was saved at the end of a splendid counter-attacking move, shortly after he had ended a 479-minute run without a goal by slotting his 12th of the season and equalling his previous best haul.
Minutes after that he was more mud than grass in many places.
‘‘It was the worst conditions I have played in,’’ Foden said. ‘‘We had to show professionalism and keep the ball moving and they tired in the end.’’
Newport, with an annual wage bill that’s less than 1 per cent of City’s, managed to reach the halftime break still at 0-0, and even created the best chance of the opening 45 minutes. City goalkeeper Ederson had to produce a stellar one-handed save to keep Tyreeq Bakinson’s header at bay in the 14th minute.
But Leroy Sane, who hit the crossbar in the first half, finally created the breakthrough for City in the 51st. Sane ran onto a pass from Gabriel Jesus and involved as the Phoenix conceded a penalty, which Keisuke Honda slotted to level the scores in a match where there were plenty of shots, but few clearcut chances.
Rudan said afterwards that his team had only been playing at ‘‘70 per cent’’ of its potential.
‘‘I don’t want to point out individuals, but as a whole, it wasn’t one of our better performances. I’ll just leave it at that. I fired a left-foot shot that hit goalkeeper Joe Day square in the face before spinning through his arms and into the net. The strike left Day with a bloody nose, and left Newport’s chances in tatters as well.
Brighton reached the quarterfinals for the second year in a row after holding off a late comeback attempt by Derby.
Brighton looked to be in complete control after taking a 2-0 lead at halftime, with Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia scoring for the Premier League side. But Derby threatened to make a comeback after veteran left back Ashley Cole – a seventime FA Cup winner with Arsenal and Chelsea – scored know that there’s a lot more this team can give.’’
Rudan acknowledged his players could be feeling the effects of the busy schedule they had in January, which might have taken more of a toll on them than other teams because of their thin squad.
‘‘It could well be a flow-on effect from the tough run of games we had in January, sometimes his first goal in the competition in the 81st.
That made for a nervy last 10 minutes for the hosts, but Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori both shot wide for Derby to scupper any hopes of a comeback.
Millwall also advanced after Murray Wallace’s early goal was enough to see off League One struggler AFC Wimbledon.
Wallace headed in a cross from Ryan Leonard in the fifth minute and the hosts had a number of second-half chances to add to the lead, but couldn’t find a way past Wimbledon goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for a second time.
It’s the second time in three years the London club has reached the quarterfinals.