Manchester City vs. Huddersfield: Score and Reaction from 2017 FA Cup Replay
Manchester City defeated Huddersfield Town 5-1 in their FA Cup fifth-round replay at the Etihad Stadium after the visitors had given the Sky Blues a scare on Wednesday.
Harry Bunn claimed the lead for Huddersfield in the seventh minute to shock manager Pep Guardiola's men, but City were quickly in their stride as they turned the screw on their opponents.
Leroy Sane equalised on the half-hour mark as the hosts poured forward, and Sergio Aguero slotted home a penalty four minutes later after being fouled in the box.
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It was 3-1 shortly before half-time as Pablo Zabaleta poached a goal from close range, leaving Aguero to expertly claim his brace in the second half. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the hosts' fifth with the final kick of the game.
Guardiola fielded a very strong side as he went for the victory, and the selection did the job it was meant to do. The City boss had made multiple changes for the first match and appeared to have learned his lesson ahead of the replay at home.
Bunn shocked the Eastlands crowd as Huddersfield took the lead in the opening minutes, with City caught napping.
The 24-year-old drilled the ball past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, sending the travelling fans into rapture.
Squawka News highlighted the criticism of Bravo, who has been under fire since joining from Barcelona:
The goal masked what was to come as City rolled their sleeves up and turned the game around in style.
Sane and Aguero both hit the woodwork as they attacked with aggression, and it was the young German international who grabbed the equaliser. Sane tapped home after excellent work from Raheem Sterling, who was in fine fettle.
The hosts were soon in the lead after Aguero was hauled down in the box, and the striker picked himself up to convert the spot-kick with precision.
In the blink of an eye, City's attacking play once against entertained the crowd, claiming a 3-1 lead through Zabaleta.
The defender found himself free in the box as the ball rolled to him, and he finished like a prolific poacher. City had scored three goals in eight minutes, and Huddersfield were derailed after a great start.
Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail tipped his hat to Guardiola's attack:
Squawka Football highlighted Sterling's contributions at half-time as the England player grows in confidence each week:
Huddersfield appeared spirited in the opening moments of the second half, and the visitors claimed for a penalty as John Stones clipped the foot of Collin Quaner. TV replays showed the England international made contact with the marauding player, but the referee refused the appeals.
City continued to dominate the centre of the park, and Huddersfield switched tactics as they attempted to force the issue.
However, it was City who grabbed a fourth with 17 minutes remaining as Aguero lashed home an effort to kill the game.
The Terriers remained busy, but fatigue had hit them in the final 10 minutes. Iheanacho rose from the bench to score with the last kick of the game to rub salt into the wound.
City were impressive in attack on the night, but once again there are major questions to be asked of their defence and goalkeeper.
Huddersfield were worthy opponents in the cup, but the gulf in class was evident during the vital moments of the contest.
Post-Match Reaction
Guardiola had special praise for Aguero after the match as the striker put the visitors to the sword, per the club's official Twitter feed:
City travel to Middlesbrough in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday, March 11.
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