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Manchester City logo
FA Cup | Fifth Round
Mar 1, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Huddersfield logo

5-1

Sane (30'), Aguero (35' pen., 74'), Zabaleta (38'), Iheanacho (91')
FT(HT: 3-1)
Bunn (7')

Live Commentary: Manchester City 5-1 Huddersfield Town - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Manchester City's 5-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup fifth round replay.
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Manchester City have eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory over Huddersfield Town.

Harry Bunn had given Huddersfield an early lead, but Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta all netted within an eight-minute period before half time.

Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho added further goals after the break as City secured a last-eight tie with Middlesbrough.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the FA Cup fifth round replay between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town.

When the draw was made for the fifth round, many believed that Manchester City would just about have too much for the in-form Championship side but that did not prove to be the case. Both managers made changes to their usual starting lineups but neither team could break the deadlock and the game ended in a goalless draw. With both clubs likely to want to avoid extra time tonight, I don't see lightning striking twice.

It's probably fair to say that neither manager are prioritising the FA Cup either. City are pushing for a top-four position in the Premier League and will already be looking ahead to trying to see off AS Monaco in the Champions League, while Huddersfield are fully focused on achieving a top-two spot in the Championship and they host leaders Newcastle United at the weekend. Based on that, let's see what players have been selected this evening...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Zabaleta, Clichy, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Garcia, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Sagna, Fernando, Navas, Delph, Silva, Iheanacho

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI: Coleman, Whitehead, Hudson, Billing, Bunn, Holmes-Dennis, Cranie, Payne, Lolley, Quaner, Stankovic

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUBSTITUTES: Ward, Smith, Hogg, Kachunga, Van La Parra, Wells, Hefele

I'd say that's a very strong team which has been named by Guardiola. Bacary Sagna and David Silva only make the bench, while Yaya Toure is rested altogether, but aside from that, the Spaniard has gone big. Aleix Garcia is the only youngster you is included in the team, with the quartet of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero all being handed starts.

As for Huddersfield, Wagner has opted to make nine changes to his team for the trip to the Etihad Stadium. Goalkeeper Joel Coleman comes in for his fifth appearances in a Terriers shirt, while there are rare appearances for the likes of Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Collin Quaner. However, the second-tier side are boosted by the inclusion of Nakhi Wells on the bench. He had been an injury doubt for this game.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's match represents the 76th meeting between the two teams, with City recording 24 wins and Huddersfield registering 22 victories. That means that there has been more draws than any other result when these clubs have played each other. There's been very few matches in recent years, however, with the 0-0 draw 11 days ago the first match in as many as 17 years.

PREDICTION! Given the two starting lineups, we can only go for a big Manchester City win. I suspect that Guardiola will have called for better performances at the back after the Monaco game, but they are close to full strength in the final third and we are backing a 4-1 victory for the home side.

We were scheduled to start at 7.45pm, GMT, but the two teams are still in a tunnel. I imagine we will be starting a couple of minutes later than planned.

Huddersfield get us underway at the Etihad. Remember, the winners of this game will go through to a quarter-final clash with Middlesbrough.

No changes on goal thus far but it's been a lively start from both. The Huddersfield players recognise that this is an opportunity to try to impress their manager ahead of a busy period which is coming up.

WOODWORK! This is a sensational effort from Sane but it strikes the post and is cleared. The shot came from an acute angle too, with the ball flying past Coleman in the Huddersfield goal, but the German international was denied.

GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Huddersfield Town (Bunn)

Unbelievable! Moments after Coleman denied Aguero at the other end, Huddersfield break forward in numbers and score a terrific goal. Billing's neat touch at the end of the move set up Bunn, and he made no mistake in firing the ball under Bravo.

If you thought that Huddersfield might go back into their shell after that goal, think again. They haven't created any more opportunities but they are looking to move forward at every given opportunity and City are finding it difficult to enjoy a prolonged period on the ball.

BOOKING! Hudson is the first man to go into the book after tugging Aguero's shirt as he looked to get into the penalty area. Correct decision.

SHOT! De Bruyne decides to take the shot on from the free kick but while his swerving effort is on target, it was never going to beat Coleman, who claims at the second opportunity.

In all fairness, I have no idea why De Bruyne is trying to pass when he is basically six yards from goal, but his intended pass to a teammate is handled on the slide and it should be a spot kick to City. Instead, the referee waves play on.

Moments later, a similar scenario unfolded with another possible handball shout. The ball eventually fell to Fernandinho, but his goalbound effort was prevented from finding the top corner by Cranie's head.

There's a certain amount of frustration in this City side. They feel hard done by with the two handball decisions but they can't let it get to them at this stage. Huddersfield are only growing in confidence.

There are a few groans coming from the home supporters now. Huddersfield are getting into a rhythm and they don't know how to break it. Billing is matching up very well with Fernandinho. He looks a future Premier League player based on this performance.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Huddersfield Town (Sane)

City have their equaliser. On general play, they don't necessarily deserve it but they do if we are basing it on their play in the final third. Sterling does well on the right before delivering a low cross for Sane and he is able to tap home from close range.

City are pushing forward in numbers now and Huddersfield will probably do well to stay on level terms until the break. Fernandinho has just had a low effort easily saved by Coleman.

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY!

GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Huddersfield Town (Aguero)

It's a somewhat harsh penalty decision - with Stankovic being adjudged to have hauled down Otamendi - but Huddersfield can't have too many complaints after previous handball shots. Aguero makes no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with an effort into the top corner.

WOODWORK! City really should have a third after a mistake from Cranie lets in Aguero, but his low strike hits the post from 14 yards out.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Huddersfield Town (Zabaleta)

Game over, probably. Aguero makes amends after that missed chance by cutting the ball back to Zabaleta to convert from close range. That's just his 12th goal since 2008.

It had all been going so well for Huddersfield but they now look like they are going to concede a goal every time City are in the final third. I'd expect Guardiola to make some changes should his side score a fourth.

CHANCE! It should be 3-2! Payne is played in behind the City defence but he can't get any curl on his shot and it goes straight at Bravo, who doesn't have to do much to make the save.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Manchester City 3-1 Huddersfield Town

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Man City have turned things around to lead 3-1. That probably should be enough to decide this tie but it would be naive to rule out a Huddersfield side who have managed to create a couple of clear-cut opportunities, one of which they scored from.

The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch at the Etihad. There doesn't appear to be nay changes in the Huddersfield side. We are still awaiting for all of City's players to return.

City get us back underway.

A rallying call must have taken place in the Huddersfield dressing room because they have returned full of ambition. It's going to take something special to take this game to extra time but they are showing positive signs in these opening stages.

Better from City, who come close to creating chances through both Sane and Sterling but both can't apply the finishing touches inside the penalty area. They've settled a bit now since Huddersfield started brightly.

CHANCE! Huddersfield miss another HUGE chance. They should be level at 3-3. A ball into the box found Lolley but his header from no more than eight yards went over the crossbar. Just before that, Payne was replaced by Rajiv van La Parra.

City are playing some good football but they are yet to create a chance in this half. They came close with Fernandinho nearly finding Sterling but his pass was overhit.

SUBSTITUTION! Another change for Huddersfield, with Tommy Smith taking the place of Lolley.

SHOT! It's a much better effort than his last shot from a set piece but it's still comfortable for Coleman, who tips the ball behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

De Bruyne gets another chance to get the ball into the box from a free kick but it's marginally over-hit, with Stones and Otamendi missing out at the back post.

SUBSTITUTION!/strong> A third and final change for Huddersfield, with Jonathan Hogg coming on for the impressive Billing.

There's not much happened over the past 10 minutes or so. Time is running out for Huddersfield to cause any late panic in the City defence. We are probably more likely to see Guardiola start to make alterations.

GOAL! Manchester City 4-1 Huddersfield Town (Aguero)

That will be that. Sterling whips in a low cross for Aguero and the Argentine does the rest with a sharp finish at the near post. City are going to be travelling to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals.

SUBSTITUTION! Here come the changes. De Bruyne is the first to be withdrawn, with Fabian Delph taking his place.

SUBSTITUTION! That's the end of Aguero's night as he is replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho.

SUBSTITUTION! A third and final alteration for City as Jesus Navas comes on for Sane.

Iheanacho has looked lively since his introduction but he seems too eager to impress. He hasn't kicked on since his impressive start to the season. Sterling looks like he wants a goal too, but Huddersfield are still keeping it down to just the four.

CHANCE! Quaner has scored just the once for Huddersfield since his arrival and you can see why. He gets the chance to drill a half-volley into the net from 12 yards but he sliced it over the crossbar.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

GOAL! Manchester City 5-1 Huddersfield Town (Iheanacho)

FULL TIME: Manchester City 5-1 Huddersfield Town

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City have secured their last-eight clash with Middlesbrough with a 5-1 win. Iheanacho added a fifth during added-on time to make the result harsh on Huddersfield.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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