City given Cup scare at third-tier Orient

Ahead of a Champions League playoff against Real Madrid, Manchester City survived a scare at third-tier Leyton Orient to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

City hosts Madrid on Tuesday in the first of a two-leg playoff. And while Pep Guardiola's team eventually fought back to win 2-1 against Orient on Saturday, it will likely need a much-improved performance to overcome Champions League holder Madrid.

Orient threatened to pull off a famous upset when it led 1-0 at halftime against the reigning Premier League champion.

It took goals from substitutes Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne to secure victory for City at Brisbane Road.

"It was impossible to control," Guardiola said. "We played with character, and we are in the next round and that's always nice."

Orient went ahead in spectacular fashion, when Jamie Donley's shot from just past the halfway line hit the bar and rebounded off the back of City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in the 16th minute.

It was officially credited as an own-goal, but Donley took the congratulations as he celebrated wildly in front of the home fans. He was also rewarded with the player-of-the-match award.

But the goal wasn't enough to hold off City's fightback.

Rico Lewis' effort deflected off Khusanov in the 56th to level the match and De Bruyne flicked a shot past Josh Keeley in the 79th to seal victory.

"The first 10-15 minutes we struggled when they attacked the channels. It was really hard, but after their fantastic goal, we took control of the game," Guardiola said.

"I said to the players before that all of us, we came from here. We didn't wake up at 16, 17, 18, 19 years old and go to Wembley. We were born in these locker rooms."

It wasn't all good news for Guardiola, however, with $61.8 million midfielder Nico Gonzalez injured and substituted after 22 minutes of his debut.

The four-time Premier League champion also gave a debut to Vitor Reis and included the likes of Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Savinho in a star-studded lineup against the League One minnow.

"It is a shame it has gone down as an own goal," Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens told reporters.

"I am sure Ortega doesn't want it. It's one thing seeing it, another executing."

Newcastle beats the Blues

Already in the final of the English League Cup, Newcastle also took another step forward in the FA Cup with a 3-2 win against Birmingham.

But, like Guardiola's men, it was another case of a top flight team being pushed to the limit by third-tier opposition.

League One leader Birmingham, which is part-owned by NFL great Tom Brady, took the lead inside a minute at St Andrew's through Ethan Laird. Twenty minutes later, though, the Magpies drew level through Joe Willock, before Callum Wilson gave them the lead in the 26th.

A stunning long-range goal from Birmingham's Tomoki Iwata pulled the game back level at 2-2 just before halftime.

Newcastle had to wait until the 82nd minute to regain the advantage, when Willock scored his second of the game.

Seagulls soar

Eight-time FA Cup winner Chelsea was dumped out of this season's tournament by Brighton — losing 2-1 despite going ahead inside five minutes at AMEX Stadium.

Seagulls' goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a mess of Cole Palmer's cross and diverted into his own net to give Chelsea the perfect start.

But, the home side powered back, with Georginio Rutter equalizing seven minutes later, and Kaoru Mitoma clipping a deft finish past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez in the 57th, despite the visitors' claim for handball.

"I think the handball is quite clear. Without VAR, it's complicated," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said. "In the second half, the only shots they had we conceded a goal from. We had a few chances at 2-1, but you have to take the consequence of the result."

Bournemouth run goes on

Flying high in the Premier League, Bournemouth is also through to the fifth round of the cup after a 2-0 victory over Everton.

Antoine Semenyo's penalty and a goal by Daniel Jebbison put Bournemouth on course for the next round by halftime at Goodison Park.

Everton hit the post three times in the second half as David Moyes' team mounted a fightback, but couldn't find a way through.

Ipswich's priority is to avoid relegation from the top flight this season, but a 4-1 win at second-tier Coventry kept its cup run going, with Jack Clarke scoring twice.

Southampton, last in the Premier League, lost 1-0 at home to a Burnley team that is fighting for promotion to the top division.

The latest shutout from Burnley was its 10th in its last 11 games.

Agencies