At 23:00 Beijing time on March 20, the FA Cup quarterfinals ushered in a match, and Manchester City challenged Southampton away. In the first half, Sterling's shot was deflected by the goalkeeper, Armstrong shot through the post, Jesus assisted Sterling's push to break the goal, Gundogan shot through the post, Andel Laporte Oolong ball. In the second half, Armstrong's low shot was deflected and De Bruyne's long-range shot flew away. Jesus made a point and De Bruyne scored a penalty. Foden scored with a volley. Mahrez scored with a low shot. In the end, Manchester City beat Southampton 4-1 to advance to the semi-finals.
Guardiola lined up in a 433 formation for the match. Steffen served as the starting goalkeeper. Cancelo, Laporte, Stones and Kyle Walker are teamed up at 4 backs. Gundogan, Rodri Hernandez and De Bruyne make up the 3 midfield. Sterling, Glallish and Jesus' forward trident joined forces. Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Foden sit on the bench. Ruben Díaz is out with injury.
Just four minutes into the game, Sterling shot into the far corner from outside the penalty area, the goalkeeper made a precise prediction, and the side save confiscated the ball. In the 8th minute, it was still Sterling's chance, and he shot from a small angle on the left side of the penalty area, which was deflected. Immediately after, Southampton almost scored! Adam Armstrong fired a low shot into the far corner from the right side of the penalty area and the ball bounced off the upright, a shame. City escaped.
In the 11th minute, Manchester City scored! The Southampton player made a mistake in the clearance, Jesus followed up and passed the ball directly to Sterling, who pushed straight and scored! Manchester City made a fantastic start. In the 23rd minute, Adam Armstrong stopped the ball in the middle of the box and fired a shot, but the kick was deflected. Four minutes later, City almost extended the score. Gundogan wrapped up the shot in front of the goal, and the ball hit the upright and bounced out, which was really bad.
In the 34th minute, Rodri Hernandez advanced to the edge of the penalty area with the ball, and he shot low into the far corner with his foot, slightly offside. Eight minutes later, relying on a corner kick opportunity, Romeu pumped the right side of the penalty area, kicked too straight, and Steffen held the ball firmly in his arms. Towards the end of the half, City conceded a goal! El Yunusi sent a cross near the right-hand bottom line and Laporte blocked the ball into his own goal. This oolong ball is amazing. At the end of the half, the two sides played in a 1-1 draw.
The second half was easy to fight again. In the 47th minute, Armstrong fired a low shot from outside the box that was deflected. In the 51st minute, De Bruyne scored a shot in the penalty area but was blocked by the defender in front of him. Two minutes later, Armstrong cut inside the near corner with the ball on the left side of the field and was blocked out of the bottom line. In the 56th minute, De Bruyne tried a long-range shot from the periphery, kicked high and the ball flew into the audience.
In the 60th minute, Jesus was brought down in the penalty area and the referee decisively awarded a penalty. De Bruyne took the penalty, he fired a low shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, and although the goalkeeper judged the right direction, he was unable to save the ball. City once again took the lead. In the 75th minute, Foden pulled his foot out of the box and fired furiously, and the ball went into the net! The goal killed the suspense of the game. Three minutes later, Mahrez scored and City went crazy. In the end, Manchester City beat Southampton 4-1. This game is really a god plot, there are too many elements: penalty + oolong ball + 2 middle post. In the end, it was Guardiola who laughed to the end.