City battle back from 2-0 deficit to join Watford in the last four
Sunday 17 March 2019 06:03, UK
Manchester City staged a stirring second-half comeback - aided by two controversial decisions - to keep their hopes of a quadruple alive as they beat Swansea 3-2 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Championship side went in front against the Premier League leaders in the 20th minute when Matt Grimes converted a penalty after Fabian Delph fouled Connor Roberts.
Former City player Bersant Celina added a brilliant second in the 29th minute with a curling finish.
City responded midway through the second half with a fine strike from Bernardo Silva and then a contentious penalty from Sergio Aguero that deflected into the net off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Swansea were annoyed at the awarding of the penalty as Cameron Carter-Vickers appeared to get the ball when he tackled Raheem Sterling, and there was further frustration to follow for the hosts as Aguero headed in from an offside position in the 88th minute to complete City's comeback.
The Video Assistant Referee was not in use as the game wasn't being played at a Premier League stadium, so neither decision was able to be reviewed.
While Swansea might be left to rue the lack of VAR, City can count themselves somewhat fortunate to still be competing on all fronts, having looked in trouble at 2-0 down.
Swansea took the lead when Roberts was clumsily fouled by Delph in the box and Grimes slotted the penalty into the corner.
It was 2-0 in the 29th minute as Swansea quickly swept forward, breaking down the left side before Nathan Dyer teed up Celina to finish with a brilliant curling first-time shot from the edge of the box.
City went close to cutting the deficit as Nordfeldt kept out a shot from Bernardo Silva and then Grimes blocked on the line from David Silva's close-range shot.
City's threat appeared to be diminishing in the second half until Bernardo Silva arrowed a fine shot across goal in the 69th minute.
That gave City a spark and they levelled in the 78th minute, albeit in fortunate fashion.
Carter-Vickers appeared to get the ball when he tackled Sterling in the box, but the referee pointed to the spot and Aguero's penalty deflected off the post and then into the net off Nordfeldt.
It was one-way traffic from then on and, after Nordfeldt made a fabulous double save to deny Jesus and then Aguero, City got the winner when Aguero stooped and headed in from Bernardo Silva's cross, although replays showed the striker was offside.
It was Silva who ignited City's comeback with a brilliant finish that flew past Nordfeldt. He also looked one of City's most threatening players on the ball and provided the assist for Aguero to net the winner.
Swansea travel to Nottingham Forest in the Championship on Saturday, March 30 before hosting Brentford on Tuesday, April 2. City return from the international break with a trip to Fulham, live on Sky Sports, on Saturday, March 30.
