Manchester City survived a significant scare in the FA Cup fourth round as Kevin De Bruyne’s late intervention secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over League One side Leyton Orient on Saturday.
The Premier League champions were on the brink of an early exit after Jamie Donley’s stunning 16th-minute strike gave Orient a shock lead.
His long-range effort, which cannoned off the crossbar before ricocheting off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and into the net, sent the home fans into raptures.
Pep Guardiola’s men, despite fielding a strong lineup, struggled to respond with any real threat until Abdukodir Khusanov leveled the score in the 56th minute.
Rico Lewis’s shot from a corner took a fortunate deflection off Khusanov, leaving Orient keeper Josh Keeley helpless.
City’s blushes were ultimately spared when De Bruyne came off the bench to slot home the winner in the 79th minute after being set up by Jack Grealish.
Even then, Orient nearly forced extra time, with captain Dan Happe volleying over a golden opportunity in the dying moments.
For all the talk of the FA Cup losing its charm in the shadow of the Premier League, this tie had drama in abundance.
On a gloomy, rain-soaked afternoon in east London, Orient’s Brisbane Road became the perfect backdrop for a near-upset, with
