Foden launches late rescue mission after Alfie puts Pep’s stars on brink of huge upset
MANCHESTER CITY were heading for serious FA Cup humiliation – until a late treble rescued them at the death.
On a day with no fourth round shocks, League Two Cheltenham looked to have changed all that when hitman Alfie May struck in the 58th minute. But with just 10 minutes left in a pulsating tie, Phil Foden levelled before Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres broke the hearts of Michael Duff’s minnows with late efforts.
All of which left City boss Pep Guardiola breathing a huge sigh of relief – and his lucky top-flight stars still on course for a second domestic Treble in three years.
Duff said: “I thought it was an incredible performance, I’m really proud of the players. Maybe we have stepped out of the racecourse’s shadow for five minutes.
“We have lost to the best team in the world and the players gave an incredible account of themselves.” After such a slow start to the campaign which had some dismissing them as serious title contenders, City have been in overdrive.
So much so that they arrived at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium looking to make it 10 victories in a row. You had to rewind to early November to find the last time they had suffered a reverse, in the Premier League at Tottenham. What a difference a couple of months make in this non-stop campaign.
Now Guardiola’s men are title favourites – two points behind leaders
Man United but with a game in hand.
With their place booked in April’s Carabao Cup final as well as in the Champions League Round of 16, victory here and the odds of an unprecedented Quadruple were sure to tumble.
The only real issue was last week’s news that Kevin De Bruyne could miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
But as irreplaceable as the Belgium playmaker is, they were still expected to ease past Cheltenham.
The hosts were seventh in the fourth tier but their only win since early December was a 2-1 extra-time success over Mansfield in the third round.
That said, they were unbeaten in six and their impressive leader in the dug-out also knew how to beat City, having played in Burnley’s 1-0 league victory over them six years ago.
With 72 league places between them a repeat seemed impossible. But May’s near-post effort inside a minute showed the potential for a shock. It certainly gave Cheltenham impetus as City’s shuffled pack – Guardiola made 10 changes – took time to settle.
Once they did they were a threat and only an amazing goal-line clearance from Ben Tozer denied Benjamin Mendy.
Home goalkeeper Joe Griffiths reacted sharply to save from Torres following Foden’s centre. When Fernandinho went close with a 25-yard piledriver that sparked the locals to hold a firework display outside.
Ref Stuart Atwell halted the action and when the tie resumed Cheltenham unveiled their secret weapon – Tozer’s missile-like throw-in.
In the 58th minute Laporte failed to deal with one, allowing May to nip in. For 20 minutes Cheltenham clung on but Foden had other ideas as he volleyed home. With six minutes left on the clock Jesus put City ahead before Torres (above) added a third in injury time. Guardiola said: “At the end the quality made the difference. In the FA Cup this is why it’s nice, everyone can beat everyone.”
Griffiths 8; Raglan 8, Tozer 9, Boyle 8; Blair 8, Azaz 8 (Williams 81st) Thomas 8, Clements 8 (Addai 89th), Freestone 8; May 9, Lloyd 8 (Long (69th) 7)
Steffen 7; Harwood-Bellis 6, Garcia 6, Laporte 5; Mendy 5 (Cancelo 77th); Torres 6, Fernandinho 7, Doyle 6 (Gundogan 68th) Mahrez 6; Jesus 5, Foden 9
Alfie May
S Attwell