Man City Vs Newcastle: O’Reilly double secures tense 2-1 win
Manchester City moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal after a tense man city vs newcastle victory at the Etihad Stadium. Nico O’Reilly scored twice in a 2-1 win that kept City firmly in the title hunt.
Man City Vs Newcastle key moments
City finished the match 2-1, a result that moved them to 56 points with a goal difference of 31, one fewer than the Gunners. O’Reilly’s first strike arrived 14 minutes into the match when Dan Burn ceded possession to Omar Marmoush; Marmoush ran forward and squeezed the ball left, and O’Reilly fired beyond Nick Pope with the goalkeeper only able to brush the effort with his right fingertips.
O’Reilly's goals and timing
Newcastle responded quickly. Sandro Tonali’s set piece led to Lewis Hall’s 22nd-minute equaliser after the ball was dropped from a corner and Hall’s effort ricocheted off Rayan Aït-Nouri, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma to his left. City’s lead lasted eight minutes and Newcastle’s parity lasted five; O’Reilly’s second came in the 27th minute, a leaping header to Pope’s left following a smart Antoine Semenyo feed to Erling Haaland and a deft right-foot cross. Haaland raised his fists to salute the goal — and his seventh assist — as the contest produced its third goal in the 27th minute.
Tactical moves and substitutions
O’Reilly was used in the second bank of two with Semenyo in Guardiola’s 4-2-2-2, ahead of Bernardo Silva and Rodri, a formation that repeatedly pierced Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s 4-2-3-1 was described in match coverage as a tactical miscalculation as Jacob Ramsey and Sandro Tonali were swamped by City’s central four. A Tonali free-kick was headed in by Dan Burn but the centre-back was flagged offside after contact with Rúben Dias; Howe later said he had not seen that push into an offside position. Dias was booked for hauling down Anthony Gordon and was substituted for the second period for the far quicker Abdukodir Khusanov — a change Guardiola confirmed was tactical.
Standout players and stat lines
The win was City’s 17th consecutive home league victory over Newcastle United. O’Reilly’s opener also carried a landmark: it was Manchester City’s 500th Premier League goal at the Etihad Stadium under Pep Guardiola. Match statistics noted City on 56 points and a goal difference of 31. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall provided the visitors’ solitary goal in the 22nd minute. Late in the game Rayan Aït-Nouri had a chance to calm home tension when he scampered free in front of Nick Pope’s goal, but a miskick allowed Pope to collect.
Additional media packages and clips
Match coverage included several video packages and clips with the following durations: "O'Reilly scores twice as Man City beat Newcastle" (00: 07: 16); "Past Kane & chasing Mbappe - why Gordon is lethal in Europe" (00: 02: 14); "'It's the ultimate role' - Carrick on Man Utd job" (00: 03: 16); "'Shouldn't be in the game' - Rosenior wants stronger racism penalties" (00: 02: 12); "Williams and White react to fans' WSL hot takes" (00: 05: 36); "Boxing rivalry is one thing, humanity is another - Fury" (00: 00: 57); "Playing to be seen - how sport helps India's Siddi community from social isolation" (00: 03: 55); "Fury says latest comeback is 'to make boxing great again'" (00: 01: 27); "Officials need VAR after FA Cup mistakes - Rooney" (00: 02: 46); "How is Zubimendi helping Arsenal's title push?" (00: 03: 36); "Martinez on club v country & managing Belgium's 'golden generation'" (00: 03: 38); and "To boo or not to boo? Pundits and fans have their say. " (00: 02: 27).
Despite a 5, 058-mile round trip for Newcastle, Howe stood down only Harvey Barnes from the side that had recorded a 6-1 hammering of Qarabag on Wednesday; Jacob Ramsey replaced Barnes. Match action after the break saw Hall curl a free-kick wide and Semenyo go off target following a rapid central burst through wide-open opponents. A late moment saw Rayan Aït-Nouri scamper free but a miskick in front of Nick Pope allowed the goalkeeper to collect.
City’s victory left the title race tight: the win reduced the gap to the leaders to two points and kept City chasing for a further run of results as the season entered its closing stages. Nico O’Reilly’s double and the tactical substitutions were decisive in a match that finished 2-1.
