Matches were played on Saturday in the fifth round of the English FA Cup with Manchester City seeing off giant killers Plymouth.

Languishing in the Championship relegation zone, Plymouth had stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool in the fourth round after beating top-flight side Brentford in the third round.

Pep Guardiola’s men were in danger of becoming Plymouth’s latest famous scalp when Maksym Talovierov gave the visitors the lead in the first half at the Etihad Stadium.

But Manchester-born O’Reilly, making just his sixth start for City, emerged as the unlikely hero with a brace that ensured his troubled team would avoid their lowest moment in a turbulent season.

English FA Cup Fifth Round Results

Below are the results for the fifth round of the English FA Cup matches:

Bournemouth 1 (Evanilson 30) vs Wolves 1 (Cunha 60) aet, Bournemouth won 5-4 on penalties

Crystal Palace 3 (Tanganga 33-og, Munoz 40, Nketiah 81) vs Millwall 1 (Harding 45+3)

Manchester City 3 (O’Reilly 45+1, 76, De Bruyne 90) vs Plymouth 1 (Taloverov 38)

Preston 3 (Brady 31, Osmajic 44, Keane 73) vs Burnley 0

Played Friday

Aston Villa 2 (Asensio 68, 80) vs Cardiff 0

Playing Sunday

Newcastle vs Brighton (13:45), Manchester United vs Fulham (16:30)

Playing Monday

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich (19:30) (AFP)

•PHOTO: Manchester City’s English midfielder #75 Nico O’Reilly (2R) celebrates scoring the team’s second goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Manchester City and Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)