Haaland and Marmoush turn tide to crush Cherries' dream

Manchester City continue to dream of a silver-lined finish to an underwhelming season.

- David Hytner

It was a day when Bournemouth were determined to make history by reaching a first semi-final in any major competition and their hopes were high at half-time. Not only had Kepa Arrizabalaga saved an Erling Haaland penalty, they were in front thanks to Evanilson's scrambled finish.

City were on the canvas. They clambered up in fine style. Haaland had missed other chances and he was forced off with an injury. But before he went, he scored the equaliser, his 30th goal of the campaign. The match-winner was his replacement. Omar Marmoush's first involvement was to take a touch before sweeping underneath Arrizabalaga.

Marmoush was not the only Pep Guardiola change to make a difference because the real City hero was Nico O'Reilly, whom the manager brought on at half-time. Like so many of those in sky blue, O'Reilly is a central midfielder by trade. How he excelled from left-back.

The 20-year-old supplied the cross for Haaland's goal after a surging run while it was his pass, a lovely reverse number with the outside of his left boot, that ushered in Marmoush. "Nico, Nico," the City fans chanted. Guardiola pushed O'Reilly in front of them when it was all over. In the previous rounds, O'Reilly had scored one against Salford and two against Plymouth. Now this, the defining performance of his fledgling career.