Manchester Metropolis eased into the FA Cup Fourth Spherical after working out 8-0 winners in opposition to League Two Salford Metropolis on Saturday.
Salford-born James McAtee bagged a second-half hat-trick on memorable evening for the teen as Pep Guardiola’s aspect prevented a significant upset on the Etihad.
Strikes from Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly both aspect of a debut aim from Divin Mubama put Metropolis in a commanding place within the first-half, whereas penalties from Jack Grealish and the superb Doku after the break, in addition to McAtee’s targets accomplished the rout.
The sport was given an added stage of spice by the actual fact members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ are co-owners of the fourth tier membership. However there was to be no memorable win for the guests as Metropolis dominated proceedings from the beginning.
The attention-catching scoreline will probably be a welcome confidence enhance for Guardiola and his crew, who’ve made a promising begin to 2025 with three successive wins.
FULL-TIME | Within the hat 🎩
🩵 8-0 🔴 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/uVvzcCGHIs
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 11, 2025
How the motion unfolded
It took lower than eight minutes for Metropolis to take the lead. Salford misplaced the ball in the midst of the pitch, Matheus Nunes fed Jack Grealish who in flip performed in Doku who completed into the far nook of the online.
The five-or-so thousand travelling supporters remained in high-quality voice regardless of their crew falling behind early and having simply 18% possession within the opening quarter of an hour.
Kylian Kouassi then hacked the ball clear as Nathan Ake’s aim sure header was missed on the road by Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.
5 minutes later, Metropolis doubled their lead when 20-year-old debutant Mubama completed off a slick transfer from the hosts.
Savinho’s go discovered the underlapping Nunes, who squared the ball to Mubama for a faucet in.
A particular second for Divin Mubama as he marks his Man Metropolis debut with a aim! 🩵#MCISAL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/K8mi3ITW4c
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 11, 2025
Kouassi then drew a save from Ederson after a mazy run however it was the Premier League champions who have been in management.
The younger Salford ahead was once more on the centre of the motion when a neat set-piece transfer culminated in a ball into the field that the 21-year-old ought to have completed higher with.
The miss finally proved expensive. Moments later Metropolis prolonged their result in three when the superb Doku beat his man earlier than reducing again to O’Reilly, who swept the ball dwelling confidently.
Two minutes after the restart, Salford have been the architects of their very own downfall when an under-hit backpass by captain Curtis Tilt was pounced upon by Mubama who laid the ball again to Grealish.
However earlier than the England worldwide might get his shot away, he was introduced down by Ossama Ashley. Grealish picked himself up and dispatched the next spot-kick for his first of the season and Metropolis’s fourth.
McAtee then made it 5 shortly after the hour mark, ending properly from Doku’s pinpoint cross. Doku then helped himself to a second when he tucked dwelling from the spot after the ball was adjudged to have struck Tilt’s arm.
Tidy end from James McAtee 👌#MCISAL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/LnNwiBDhBC
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 11, 2025
McAtee added one other aim after a high-quality go from Phil Foden earlier than finishing his hat-trick to heap additional distress onto the League Two outfit.
Salford had a few half-chances and gave a five-minute runout to 16-year-old Will Wright. However Metropolis noticed out the rest of the competition largely untroubled.
