The quadruple dream remains intact for Manchester City after an early headed goal from Gabriel Jesus sealed it a scrappy 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Gabriel Jesus (right) scored in the third minute
London:
Whatever plan BHAFC boss Chris Hughton had cooked up was in tatters after only three minutes.
In one of the only fluid moves City put together all afternoon, Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a superb low cross and Jesus arrived at the far post to plant a diving header past keeper Matthew Ryan.
The Brighton fans must have feared the worst, but the onslaught never arrived. And had City full-back Kyle Walker been shown a red card after a clash with Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the first half, the outcome could have been different.
Walker reacted angrily after being shoved in the back and as the players squared up face to face, he appeared to move his head into Jahanbakhsh’s forehead.
The incident went to the Video Assistant Referee, which is being used in the FA Cup, but referee Anthony Taylor was not required to send Walker off. Although, the right-back was replaced by Brazilian Danilo at half-time. Brighton gradually grew in belief and had City central defender Aymeric Laporte not made a superb goal-line clearance, it could have drawn level.
The Frenchman hacked clear just when Glenn Murray seemed poised to equalise early in the second half. Hughton’s side caused the occasional problem from set-pieces and with City unusually lethargic, the result was never in the bag until referee Taylor blew for full-time.
Jesus launched himself into the air to connect decisively in the third minute but City never hit top gear. It was a tired-looking display and Pep Guardiola’s men will need to rediscover their spark ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur for the first leg of the Champions League last eight tie. Back at Wembley where it beat Chelsea on penalties to win the League Cup in February, City was huge favourite to get past Brighton.
Whatever plan BHAFC boss Chris Hughton had cooked up was in tatters after only three minutes.
In one of the only fluid moves City put together all afternoon, Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a superb low cross and Jesus arrived at the far post to plant a diving header past keeper Matthew Ryan.
The Brighton fans must have feared the worst, but the onslaught never arrived. And had City full-back Kyle Walker been shown a red card after a clash with Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the first half, the outcome could have been different.
Walker reacted angrily after being shoved in the back and as the players squared up face to face, he appeared to move his head into Jahanbakhsh’s forehead.
The incident went to the Video Assistant Referee, which is being used in the FA Cup, but referee Anthony Taylor was not required to send Walker off. Although, the right-back was replaced by Brazilian Danilo at half-time. Brighton gradually grew in belief and had City central defender Aymeric Laporte not made a superb goal-line clearance, it could have drawn level.
The Frenchman hacked clear just when Glenn Murray seemed poised to equalise early in the second half. Hughton’s side caused the occasional problem from set-pieces and with City unusually lethargic, the result was never in the bag until referee Taylor blew for full-time.