Newport: Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in an ultimately comfortable 4-1 fifth-round victory Saturday.
Newport, 82 rungs below City on the English football ladder, rattled Pep Guardiola’s aristocrats in the first half and Tyreeq Bakinson almost gave them the lead at a rocking Rodney Parade.
But City’s class showed in the second half and once Leroy Sane’s powerful shot from a tight angle put them in front after 51 minutes the chances of a seismic Cup shock faded away.
Foden’s 75th-minute shot crept in at the near post to subdue the home fans but when Padraig Amond maintained his run of scoring in every round with an 88th minute lob it seemed possible Newport’s fairytale might have a late twist.
But a second goal for youngster Foden arrived 71 seconds later before Riyad Mahrez rubbed salt into Newport’s wounds with virtually the last kick of the game as City claimed a 12th win in 13 matches in all competitions.
City dominated possession with Sane grazing the bar and Mahrez going close but Newport were always a threat and Joss Labadie skewed a half chance wide from another long throw.
Six minutes after the break City went ahead when Sane’s fierce shot smashed Joe Day straight in the face on its way into the net — the keeper getting a bloody nose for his trouble.
Day, who sprinted off the pitch to attend the birth of his twins following Newport’s fourth-round win over second-tier Middlesbrough, was at fault as Foden made it 2-0.
The 30-year-old Amond took advantage of a lapse to dink Newport’s reply, briefly restoring the decibel-level in the stadium, but Foden’s sweet left-foot strike and Mahrez’s cool finish spared City any late anxiety.