Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United (16 Mar, 2024) Game Analysis

Holders Manchester City became the first team in history to reach six consecutive FA Cup semi-finals, as two deflected strikes from Bernardo Silva gave them a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United lackluster at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

City made five changes from the team that started in last weekend's 1-1 Premier League draw against Liverpool and still managed to progress to the last four as Newcastle provided little resistance .

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City took the lead in the 13th minute when a Silva shot deflected off Newcastle defender Dan Burn, wrong-footed goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and sent the ball looping into the net.

The home side led 2-0 in the 31st minute, and once again it was Portuguese playmaker Silva who cut in from the right and shot, Sven Botman's header helping to head the ball past Dubravka.

Alexander Isak almost scored in the 36th minute, but goalkeeper Stefan Ortega brilliantly got down to his left to prevent the Swedish striker's bouncing shot. This proved to be Newcastle's only effort at goal in the match.

Just after the hour mark, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe lost patience with his stuttering team and made four substitutions. Although the introduction of Miguel Almirón gave the visitors a much-needed dose of creativity in their attack, the home side quickly readjusted.

Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku both had several chances to score, but manager Pep Guardiola won't be too bothered by their profligacy in front of goal as his side outclassed the visitors from start to finish.

“The team played well, we did exactly what the coach wanted us to do and we scored some nice goals, we scored some important goals, we defended well, we attacked well, so very happy” , Doku told the BBC.

“We had control but you never know, you always have to be careful with counter-attacks… but I think the defenders did very well and we came back to help them too,” he added .

City join Coventry City, who scored a shock 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier today, in the semi-final draw, which will be made after Sunday's remaining quarter-finals between Chelsea and Leicester City and Manchester United at Liverpool.

For Newcastle, the defeat ends any hopes of winning silverware this season.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.