Pep Guardiola had to count on the big cannons of Manchester City to prevent them from undergoing a major upheaval in FA in Leyton Orient this afternoon.
The One League led for 40 minutes after Stefan Ortega’s goal, but a lucky equalizer followed by a piece of shine by Jack Grenish and Kevin de Bruyne saw City hurry.
Guardiola appointed a very changed programming which included the beginners Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez, but both endured a hot time with the first drag at the break, and Gonzalez drinks after 22 minutes.
The latter was injured after being dispossessed in the construction of the Eastern goal, losing to Sonny Perkins and allowing Jamie Donley to try an ambitious 45 yard chip on Ortega.
The ball cut the underside of the bar, then hit the German back on the legs before crossing the line.
City offered ephemeral moments through an answer before their luck changed 11 minutes in the second half when the ball hit the replacement Abdukodir Khusanov and entered.
And City, looked at by Oasis’ guitarist, Noel Gallagher, then caught the graceful winner of the star of Belgium in Bruyne.
Almost immediate impact of Kevin de Bruyne !!! 💥
City Ilded! pic.twitter.com/pn2kvtdtev
– BBC Sport (@bbcsport) February 8, 2025
The defender of the house Dan Happe should have equalized in the last minute, but flambé a volley and six meters wide.
Shaken
The first half could not have been better for the boss Richie Welens and Orient with the local team capable of reducing any threat from the Premier League champions while looking at a persistent threat to the counter.
Orient could have been before their first serious attack after three minutes. The living Charlie Kelman played Jack Currie on the left and his low cross was partially treated by Nico O’Reilly before the referee breathes for a fault.
City answered with Ilkay Gundogan cutting his shot largely in front of an open goal after nine minutes.
Orient found a lot of joy when they manifested themselves and Kelman found himself clean through five minutes later, but a heavy touch pushed him wide, allowing Ortega to make a stifling backup.
The German did not have the chance of the next Orient attack that the hosts took a shock lead. Perkins on Gonzalez’s challenge in the midfield was tried just by referee Darren Bond and the ball fell in Donley who produced a moment of magic.
Magical moment of Leyton Orient 💫💫💫 pic.twitter.com/pmrpp0b9li
– Day match (@bbcmotd) February 8, 2025
City whispered and blew in search of an equalizer but did not have the physical presence of the missing Erling Haaland.
Donley cleared a Bernardo Silva drawn from the line and Omar Marmoush scored a volley of his heel, allowing the housekeeper Josh Keeley to make a backup of routine.
Half-time changes have an impact
Guardiola’s half-time changes with Khusanov and John Stones coming offered visitors a greater level of stability at the back and with Orient apparently happier to sit, it is the Premier League team that started to dominate.
Gundogan saw a blocked shot, like Marmoush, while James McATEE’s efforts hit the outside post.
Keeley produced a brilliant backup to prevent a Gundogan shot after 63 minutes, plunging low to his left to adorn the light ball.
The noisy crowd of the hearth had fallen silent as if it felt that an equalizer was going to arrive and he duly arrived from the resulting corner.
A short routine saw the ball falling on Rico Lewis on the edge of the area and his shot struck Khusanov and Keeley’s bad foot on his way.
Manchester City is level! pic.twitter.com/yigeyyykpq
– BBC Sport (@bbcsport) February 8, 2025
Guardiola called De Bruyne and Phil Foden after 71 minutes and it didn’t take long for one of them to make his mark.
Grealish, who impressed his return to the starting line, played a wonderful ball in the left channel and Bruyne capitalized on the hesitation of Keeley to cut the ball after the goalkeeper.
