Result: Everton 0-2 Manchester City
Date: 20 March 2021
Venue: Goodison Park
Manchester City secured passage to the semi-finals of the FA Cup after beating Everton 2-0 with late goals from two of their stars on Saturday evening.
Man City made six changes from the UEFA Champions League win over Borussia Monchengladbach, as Raheem Sterling was finally recalled, with goalkeeper Zack Steffen getting another cup run alongside the return of Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho.
The Citizens lacked their usual zest going forward and the Toffees almost took advantage in the 18th minute as Richarlison came close to giving them the lead with an overhead kick inside the box that sailed slightly over the bar.
Pep Guardiola's charges were keeping Everton in their own half but they could not find penetrative passes and were not testing inexperienced shot-stopper Joao Virginia.
Yerry Mina came close to breaking the deadlock for Carlo Ancelotti's charges on the stroke of half-time with a header inside the box towards the far corner, but Zinchenko was on hand to clear the effort away with Steffen beaten.
City upped their intensity in the early exchanges of the second stanza as Sterling came very close to giving them the lead on the hour-mark with a first-time strike that was brilliantly saved by Virginia in the bottom corner.
Man City had their spark back after they brought on Riyad Mahrez in place of Bernardo Silva four minutes later but with Everton still holding on, they brought on Kevin De Bruyne in the last ten minutes in place of Sterling.
Gundogan finally broke the deadlock for Guardiola's men six minutes before time with a diving header into an empty net from a rebound after Laporte hit the crossbar.
De Bruyne wrapped up the game for the Citizens in stoppage time with a clinical left-footed strike past Virginia after he went clear on goal from Rodri's through ball and City booked their spot in the semi-finals.
