Marmoush fires City into SF

LONDON: Manchester City came from behind to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, a victory come at a cost as Erling Haaland hobbled off injured.

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Haaland had seen a first-half penalty saved before Evanilson put the Cherries in front.

The Norwegian made amends by equalising four minutes into the second period before being forced off with an ankle injury.

His replacement, Omar Marmoush, took just two minutes to score the winner from a second-assault as the impressive Nico O’Reilly’s City booked a semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest.

“Seven times in a row reaching semi-finals in the FA Cup, this is out-standing. This generation of players, they have done this,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.

City have been a shadow of the side that won four consecutive Premier League titles this season and Guar-diola said prior to the game that even FA Cup glory would not save a miser-able season.

The English champions’ collapse in the Premier League became a genuine horror back in November with a 1-0 defeat that kicked of a run of six defeats in eight games.

But Guardiola hailed the difference in attitude in his side between then and now.

“We came here [in November] with the flip flops on against a team that if you don’t compete, it is impossible,” added Guardiola.