Peterborough displayed resolute defence until Mahrez broke the deadlock on the hour-mark and then Grealish sealed their passage into the last-8 with the second, seven minutes later.
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Second half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish helped Manchester City to a 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup fifth round fixture at ABAX Stadium on Tuesday. Ukrainian footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko was handed City’s armband to show support for his nation and before kick-off, he and Peterborough captain Frankie Kent held a Ukraine flag as they led the two teams out at the Weston Homes stadium. The home side displayed resolute defence until Mahrez broke the deadlock on the hour-mark and then Grealish sealed their passage into the last-8 with the second seven minutes later.
Also read: Burnley vs Leicester City: Maddison and Vardy on target as the Foxes win 2-0
FULL TIME | Quarter-finals here we come! ??
? 0-2 ⚪️ #ManCity pic.twitter.com/UssNEVwqEk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2022
Manchester City controlled the game and dominated the ball possession early on but it was the hosts who had the first crack at goal when Ederson made a brilliant save to deby Jeando Fuchs at the near post inside the opening 10 minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s side continued to pass the ball around and two minutes before the hour-mark, Ilkay Gundogan’s right-foot curler went beyond the dive of keeper Steven Benda but went wide of the far post. Five minutes before the break, Gundogan headed wide from Mahrez’ cross.
After the break, the hosts once again started brightly as Sammie Szmodics fired wide with the Man City goal at his mercy before Phil Foden made a crucial last-ditch tackle to take the ball off jorge Grant just as he was about to get a shot away from inside the box.
However, City took the lead on 62 minutes when Mahrez cut inside from the right side of the penalty area and slotted home past Benda into the far bottom corner with his trademark left-foot curler.
City looked more confident after the opening goal and Mahrez missed a good chance to double the lead when he fired his effort over the bar from inside the box. And then, City deservedly extended the lead on 67 minutes when Foden played an inch-perfect overhead ball to find the run of Grealish on goal, and the English playmaker controlled the ball brilliantly before scoring his first FA Cup goal.
In response, Jack Marriotte’s stinging effort was blocked by Ederson. Joao Cancelo made space for himself with some brilliant piece of individual skills but his powerful effort was saved by Benda before Foden saw his shot from outside the box pushed away by the German keeper.
