Man City 3-1 Plymouth: O’Reilly and De Bruyne goals spare hosts FA Cup shock

Seven-time winners Manchester City came from behind through two Nico O’Reilly goals and one from Kevin De Bruyne to end Championship club Plymouth Argyle’s FA Cup run in the fifth round at Etihad Stadium.

City dominated the first half and hit a post through a curling Ilkay Gundogan shot, only to fall behind to the delight of the 8,000 away fans when Ukraine centre-back Maksym Talovierov headed in Matthew Sorinola’s delivery seven minutes before the break from Plymouth’s first corner.

🟢 PLYMOUTH LEAD AT THE ETIHAD! 🟢

Maksym Talovierov with a towering header 💥#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/vTxjEDehbd

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

Just when the team who knocked Liverpool out in the previous round looked to have reached half-time with their advantage intact, O’Reilly headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick to give the Premier League side a measure of relief after their opponents had punished them for the kind of generous defending that has been a feature of their uncertain form this season.

CITY ARE BACK LEVEL! ⚽️

Nico O’Reilly finishes a wonderful delivery from De Bruyne ✨#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/dpNFdxnl3r

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

O’Reilly goals transform FA Cup tie

The 19-year-old midfielder met Phil Foden’s delivery to head in again with 14 minutes remaining and put the Cityzens on course for a seventh consecutive quarter-final appearance.

Captain De Bruyne stabbed in the 90th-minute third after substitute Erling Haaland’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Conor Hazard, sending the ball back into the path of City’s top scorer to supply the playmaker.

Nico O’Reilly at the DOUBLE! ⚽️⚽️

The Green Army’s resistance is finally broken!#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/TlhqTTllzU

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

Manchester City vs Plymouth: Equaliser ‘lifted spirits’

While City kept Haaland in reserve among their changes against the lowest-ranked team in the fifth round of the competition, Plymouth perhaps had more cause to rotate their starting side in the context of a Championship relegation battle, and manager Miron Muslic – appointed as Wayne Rooney’s successor in January – switched six players.

Argyle’s tactical plan impressed for a game in which they absorbed pressure almost throughout, their performance reflecting how they had taken two top-flight scalps in the previous rounds.

Game. Set. Match.

Haaland tees up De Bruyne to send City through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup 🏆#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/DCBaJj9ruQ

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

A 1-0 win at Brentford marked a superb start to a memorable campaign, with Muslic and his players embracing their City counterparts and sharing mutual admiration with the travelling support at the end.

City academy product O’Reilly has also been prospering in the FA Cup, starting in all three of their games in this season’s competition and adding to his goal in the 8-0 home win over fourth-tier Salford City in the third round.

Pep, how’s your touch? 👀#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kubtsmOe5j

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

“Going into half-time at 1-0 down would have been tough,” the Englishman told ITV Sport. “It lifted the spirits. We were ready for the second half after that.”

Plymouth can move level on points with the team immediately outside the Championship relegation zone, Hull City, when they visit the Tigers on Tuesday (7.45pm GMT).

Fourth-placed City are next in action away to the team immediately above them in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest, on Saturday (12.30pm).

HOW DID THIS NOT GO IN?! 🫨

Gundogan’s effort rattles the post and Plymouth survive… #ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/GraRyCQ6vw

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

FA Cup fifth round fixtures and TV schedule

Sunday, 2 March

Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion (13:45 GMT) – ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player

Manchester United v Fulham (16:30 GMT) – BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Monday, 3 March

Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town (19:30 GMT) – ITV4 and ITVX

WHAT. A. SAVE.

Hazard with a wonder stop to keep Argyle in it 🧤#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kwiPxdhlhO

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw 2025?

The draw will take place on Sunday, March 2 after United attempt to earn a third win over Fulham this season when the Cottagers visit Old Trafford.

That game starts at 4.30pm, so the earliest the draw could potentially take place is around 6.30pm.

All ties from the first round of the competition must be settled on the day, so there could be extra time and penalties if the score remains level, which would push the approximate time of the draw past 7pm.

FA Cup quarter-final draw: TV channel, online live stream

United vs Fulham is being shown by BBC Sport, which means the draw will be screened on BBC One.

Fans can follow the ceremony online and on the move via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, while the Football Association’s online channels will also be carrying coverage.

The Plymouth fans are having a great time 😅#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/eqx4zVSUkW

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

FA Cup schedule: Quarter-final dates 2025

Here are the rest of the dates in this season’s competition.

Quarter-finals – weekend of Saturday, March 29
Semi-finals – weekend of Saturday, April 26
Final – Saturday, May 17

FA Cup 2024/25 prize money

Here are the figures published by the FA for how much the winners and losers receive at various stages.

Third round – winners £115,000 / losers £25,000
Fourth round – winners £120,000
Fifth round – winners £225,000
Quarter-final – winners £450,000
Semi-final – £1 million / £500,000
Final – £2m / £1m