Manchester City Advances to FA cup Fifth Round with 2-0 Victory Over Salford City

Manchester, England – February 14, 2026 –⁤ Manchester ⁣City secured their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0‍ win against Salford City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. A dominant performance saw City progress in the competition, despite a resilient effort from their League Two ​opponents.

First-Half Dominance Sets the Tone

City took the lead early in the match, scoring in the 6th ‍minute. Tijjani Reijnders ⁤played a key pass to Rayan Ait-Nouri, who drove into the penalty area ⁢and delivered a low cross. ​ Salford City’s Alfie Dorrington attempted ⁣a clearance but inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net, giving City the advantage.

Following the early goal, Manchester​ City continued to press, creating several opportunities. Omar Marmoush had a goal disallowed for offside in the 23rd minute, adding to the⁤ frustration⁣ of a City side eager to extend their lead. Salford City, though,⁢ proved to be a difficult opponent to break down, defending resolutely and posing occasional threats on the counter-attack.

Salford nearly equalized in the 42nd⁤ minute when Ben Woodburn unleashed a powerful shot that forced James Trafford into ⁢a crucial save. Brandon Cooper also had a ⁢late possibility in added time, but his header went narrowly wide.

second-Half goals Seal the Victory

the second half​ saw Manchester City‍ continue to control possession and​ dictate the tempo. Ryan McAidoo tested Matt Young with a fierce shot in the 50th minute,but the Salford goalkeeper was equal to the task.

City manager Pep Guardiola introduced antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly in the second half to⁣ inject fresh energy into the attack. Semenyo came close to scoring in‍ the 78th minute, but his shot sailed just wide of the target.

The Citizens finally doubled their lead in the​ 81st minute through Marc Guehi. A cross from Rayan Cherki was initially parried‌ by Young, but the ball fell kindly to ‌Guehi, ⁣who tapped it into the unguarded net.

Lineups

Manchester City: ⁢James Trafford, Rayan ⁣Ait-Nouri, Max Alleyne, John Stones, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Rico Lewis, Rayan Cherki,‌ Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush.

Salford City: ⁣ Matt Young, Luke Garbutt, Alfie Dorrington, Zach Awe, Josh Austerfield, Brandon Cooper, Rosaire Longelo, Jorge Grant, Ben ‍Woodburn, Kelly N’Mai, Ryan Graydon.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester City’s early goal set the tone for a dominant ‍performance.
• Salford City proved to be a resilient opponent, notably in the first half.
• Marc Guehi’s goal secured the victory and ensured City’s progression to the FA Cup fifth round.

Published: February 14, 2026