Man City Vs Newcastle — O’Reilly doubles as City move within two points
man city vs newcastle ended 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium as Nico O’Reilly’s first-half double secured a tense Manchester City victory and moved City to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. The result left City on 56 points with a goal difference of 31 (one fewer than the Gunners) as the title race tightened.
Man City Vs Newcastle recap
Manchester City beat Newcastle United 2-1 in a game settled by Nico O’Reilly’s two first-half strikes. City’s victory was their 17th consecutive home league win over Newcastle. The final scoreline followed Lewis Hall’s 22nd-minute equaliser for Eddie Howe’s side.
O’Reilly's double and Pep's role
O’Reilly’s opener arrived after 14 minutes when Dan Burn ceded possession to Omar Marmoush; the Egyptian ran forward and squeezed the ball left, allowing O’Reilly to take a look and fire beyond Nick Pope, with the goalkeeper’s right fingertips merely brushing the finish as it went past. Eight minutes after Hall’s equaliser, O’Reilly climbed to head home a second from a smart Antoine Semenyo feed to Erling Haaland that was complemented by a deft right-foot cross. The Norwegian raised his fists to salute the goal — and his seventh assist — giving City their third goal in the 27th minute.
How the goals unfolded
Newcastle’s equaliser followed a fast counter that forced two corners; Sandro Tonali dropped the second in, the ball came to Lewis Hall and his effort ricocheted off Rayan Aït-Nouri, defeating Gianluigi Donnarumma to his left. City’s lead lasted eight minutes, and Newcastle’s parity lasted five. Towards the end Rayan Aït-Nouri scampered free and could have calmed home tension but a miskick in front of Nick Pope’s goal allowed Newcastle’s keeper to collect.
Tactical shifts and substitutions
O’Reilly operated as part of the second bank of two with Antoine Semenyo in Guardiola’s 4-2-2-2, ahead of Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and constantly penetrated Howe’s 4-2-3-1. Jacob Ramsey, who replaced Harvey Barnes after Howe stood Barnes down despite the 5, 058 miles round trip following Wednesday’s 6-1 hammering of Qarabag, was part of a midfield that went awol when O’Reilly struck the opener.
Rúben Dias was involved in a sequence when a Tonali free-kick was headed in by Dan Burn but the centre-back was offside after being pushed into position; Howe said he had not seen this. Dias’s sluggish pace led to a foul on Anthony Gordon to concede Tonali’s set piece; Dias was booked and then substituted for the second period — a tactical change Guardiola confirmed — with the far quicker Abdukodir Khusanov coming on.
Soon after the break Hall curled a free-kick wide, and moments later Semenyo went off target after a rapid central burst through wide-open opponents. Anthony Gordon had earlier broken down the left, turned Marc Guéhi in the area and shot low, only for Donnarumma to save.
Title implications and standings
City moved to 56 points with a goal difference of 31 (one fewer than the Gunners), narrowing the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to two points and giving Pep Guardiola a fine chance of a seventh title in a decade. For fans of each team squeaky posterior time is officially entered: the final 11 matches for City and the Gunners promise to be a cannot-miss spectacle. By early Sunday evening Mikel Arteta’s side will be down to 10 games and 30 points left to play for after they travel to Tottenham; should they emerge victorious from the north London derby their advantage would be five points with one match fewer to play, but after this City victory it is a mere two, leaving a severe test of nerve at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Videos and highlights list
O’Reilly scores twice as Man City beat Newcastle — Video, 00: 07: 16. Other related items included: "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).
Nico O’Reilly’s opener was Manchester City’s 500th Premier League goal at the Etihad Stadium under Pep Guardiola. They have netted 68 m
So the game finished 2-1, with Manchester City keeping pace in the title chase as Newcastle were denied more than Lewis Hall’s 22nd-minute reply and travelled home trailing after City’s 17th straight home league success over the visitors.
