Manchester City made the quarter finals of the Emirates FA Cup after comfortably beating League Two Newport County.
Newport were hoping to follow in the footsteps of their 1982 side who managed a victory against Manchester City in a testimonial match for former manager Len Ashurst, but the current champions of England proved formidable opponents.
An action-packed second half saw goals from Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez, a consolation goal from Padraig Amond, and a brace by Phil Foden.
Newport would have been very pleased with how they started the game, having pressed City well and dealt with their fast pace. The Exiles came close a number of times and were unlucky not to hit the back of the net in the first half.
A few chances also came City’s way in the first half with Sane, Fernandinho and Mahrez all missing high and wide of goal.
The first real chance of the game came in the sixth minute from Amond, who has scored in every round of the campaign so far this season. The Irishman found himself through on goal having made a run past Oleksandr Zinchenko, but Nicolas Otamendi made a challenge before Amond could get his shot away.
Tyreeq Bakinson had an opportunity to score the first of the game but his attempt was saved brilliantly by Ederson in City’s goal.
And just six minutes later Joss Labadie fired a half volley from the middle of the box which just wide of the top left corner.
The later part of the first half saw a more settled City side and Sane edged just over the crossbar on 33 minutes.
Sane kept his cool after missing a few chances in the first half and broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when his shot bobbled over the line to put his side ahead.
However, Newport forward Jamille Matt did not look ready to give up the ghost and applied pressure to Ederson, who fumbled, but he managed to recover and the ball was cleared to safety.
The pace dropped in the second half and Newport allowed the visitors a lot of time to play. Both sides played with less intensity but City looked dominant.
Foden doubled his side’s lead when he cut inside and fired past Joe Day, who missed the birth of his twin daughters during Newport’s fourth round replay win over Middlesbrough.
The home side showed bursts of great defending late on in the second half with O’Brien and Scott Bennett both making stand-out clearances.
Gabriel Jesus tried to dance through Newport’s defence, but his attempt at goal was saved by Day.
Just when Newport looked written off, in the 88th minute, Amond chipped Ederson for a consolation goal for the League Two side.
However, quickly after, Foden restored the City’s two-goal advantage. And Mahrez added a fourth in added time.
Manchester City had survived the giantkillers.
