CITY ESCAPE
Leyton Orient 1 Man City 2: Kevin De Bruyne steps off bench to clinch narrow comeback win for Pep Guardiola’s side
Guardiola has another injury headache ahead of clash against Real Madrid
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KEVIN DE BRUYNE broke the hearts of Orient and romantics everywhere with a late winner.
And De Bruyne’s moment of quality, so rare in a lacklustre performance by Manchester City, decided a compelling tie only after a dose of FA Cup magic from Orient’s Jamie Donley - and a big helping of good fortune.
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City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov knew little about the second-half equaliser he scored, diverting Rico Lewis’ shot past wrongfooted Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley.
And De Bruyne’s goal robbed the League One side of the chance to play extra time, which was what they deserved after taking a sensational lead.
The records will show it was an own goal by City keeper Stefan Ortega that gave Orient the lead.
The visitors will continue to insist that if VAR had been in operation, it would have been disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
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But Donley’s effort from 50 yards, which came off the bar and then Ortega before nestling in the City net, will be replayed for years.
And if captain Dan Happe had converted a late chance to equalise, Orient could yet have sprung a shock.
For nearly an hour this was a day and performance to forget for City.
The lesser-spotted Jack Grealish had the game’s first shot, cutting in from the left and firing wide of the near post.
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The home fans gave a frank verdict and then watched their own team go close at the other end.
A long ball over the top and a clever pass by frontman Charlie Kelman allowed left-back Jack Currie to send in a dangerous cross that City made a meal of clearing until referee Darren Bond came to their rescue by awarding a free kick.
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The away team should have taken the lead in the 10th minute.
Savinho volleyed Ruben Dias’ pass across goal, the Orient defence missed it but Ilkay Gundogan failed to find a finish from close range.
It was Orient who forced the first save of the game.
Kelman beat Vitor Reis in a footrace and after a heavy touch still managed to get a shot away that Ortega blocked at his near post.
And Ortega was helpless moments later when Orient took a sensational lead.
While City screamed for a foul near the halfway line, Donley let fly from more than 50 yards.
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Ortega retreated in a panic but only far enough to divert the ball into his own net after it came back off the crossbar.
City were rattled and although James McAtee got his toe on a cross he could only divert it straight at Orient ‘keeper Josh Keeley.
Things got worse for the visitors soon after when debutant Nico Gonzalez, injured in the build-up to the goal, was forced to leave the field.
Substitute Bernardo Silva had his shot from a Grealish cross blocked, then Dias sent a header from a Savinho corner into Keeley’s grateful arms.
City were finding some promising positions but not being ruthless.
Grealish wasted a good chance to shoot before sending a cross to the far post for Silva.
But there was Donley on his own goalline to clear.
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Orient reminded City of their threat when Kelman again got in behind and square for Sonny Perkins, who fired well over the bar.
It was only in stoppage time that the visitors forced Keeley into his first difficult save and even then Marmoush’ volley from a Savinho cross was pretty much straight at the Orient keeper.
Guardiola changed both his centre-backs at half time, bringing on John Stones and Khusanov for Dias and the hapless Reis.
The Uzbek centre-back soon had to be on his toes to prevent Kelman meeting a Perkins cross.
City were gaining a little momentum.
Gundogan had a shot blocked by one of the massed ranks of Orient bodies and Rico Lewis was off target with the follow-up.
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Keeley had to be alert to deny Marmoush.
But he could do nothing about it when Lewis’ shot from distance hit Khusanov on the head and left him totally wrongfooted.
Orient did not allow the misfortune to deflate them.
Kelman connected with a free kick from the left but sent the ball wide of Ortega’s near post.
City felt they should have had a penalty just after the hour when a fine move ended with Marmoush laying the ball off to McAtee.
The shot grazed the post but Marmoush believed he had been on the wrong end of firmer contact from Orient centre-back Jack Simpson which deserved punishment in the form of a spotkick.
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Keeley then got down well to keep out Gundogan’s shot from outside the box.
At the other end, Kelman once more posed danger with a cross-shot that Ortega decided to leave and a near-post shot that he opted to push away.
The City keeper flapped at the resulting corner to give the home side further hope.
But by now Guardiola had sent on Phil Foden and De Bruyne, and it was the latter who decided the game.
After a long period of possession, Grealish chipped a fine pass in behind and the Belgian helped it past Keeley with the deftest of touches.
Still Orient believed.
When they won a free kick in the 90th minute they sent forward keeper Keeley, who had scored a sensational equaliser against Oldham in the second round.
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But Tom James’ delivery reached captain Happe, only for the centre half to volley over the bar.
Kelman caused more problems before the end, but Orient could not find the equaliser.
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