Manchester City narrowly avoided getting knocked out of the FA Cup against League One side Leyton Orient, securing a 2-1 victory on Saturday to advance to the fifth round.
Pep Guardiola’s team found themselves in trouble early when an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Stefan Ortega put Leyton Orient ahead. The goal came after a stunning shot from Jamie Donley struck the crossbar, rebounding off Ortega and into the net, giving the underdogs a surprising lead.
Despite City’s dominance in possession, they struggled to break down a determined Leyton Orient defense for most of the first half. The third-tier side held their advantage until the 56th minute, when Rico Lewis’ shot took a deflection off Abdukodir Khusanov and found the back of the net. The equalizer gave City hope, but they continued to face resistance from their opponents.
As the game entered its final stages, Guardiola made key substitutions, bringing on Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne in an attempt to find a winner. The move paid off when De Bruyne capitalized on a pass from Jack Grealish, calmly finishing to put City ahead with just 11 minutes remaining.
