Manchester City easily qualified for the FA Cup fourth round after an 8-0 win over Salford City in the Second Division on Saturday.
Salford-born James McAtee scored a second-half hat-trick on a memorable night for the youngster, as Pep Guardiola's side avoided a major upset at the Etihad Stadium.
Shots from Jeremy Doku and Nico O'Reilly either side of a first-time goal from Devin Mombama put City in a commanding position in the first half, while penalties from Jack Grealish and the excellent Doku after the break, plus goals from Makati completed the scoring. defeat.
The game is given an extra level of excitement by the fact that members of Manchester United's 'Class of 92' are co-owners of the fourth division club. But there was no memorable win for the visitors as City dominated the match from the start.
The eye-catching result would be a welcome confidence boost for Guardiola and his team, who have made a promising start to 2025 with three straight wins.
Full time | In the hat 🎩
🩵 8-0 🔴 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/uVvzcCGHIs
– Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2025
How the work unfolded
It took less than eight minutes for City to take the lead. Salford lost the ball in the middle of the field, and Matthews Nunes passed to Jack Grealish, who in turn passed to Doku, who shot the ball into the far corner of the goal.
The approximately 5,000 traveling fans remained vocal despite their team falling behind early and having just 18% of possession in the opening quarter-hour.
Kylian Kouassi then made a clear cut as Nathan Ake's goal-bound header was missed by Jahmai Simpson Bossy on the goal line.
Five minutes later, City doubled their lead when 20-year-old Mbama, making his debut, finished off a brilliant attack by the hosts.
Savinho's pass reached Nunes, who passed the ball to Mbama to put it into the net.
A special moment for Devin Mombama as he celebrates his debut with Manchester City with a goal! 🩵#MCISAL #BBC Football pic.twitter.com/K8mi3ITW4c
– BBC Sport (@BBC Sport) January 11, 2025
Kouassi then blocked a shot from Ederson after a crazy run, but it was the Premier League champions who controlled the ball.
The young Salford striker was once again at the heart of the action when a free-kick movement culminated in a ball into the box that the 21-year-old should have done better.
The loss ultimately proved costly. Moments later City extended their lead to three when the excellent Doku beat his man before falling back to O'Reilly who confidently slotted the ball home.
Two minutes into the second half, it was Salford who engineered their team's downfall when Mobama pounced on a back pass from captain Curtis Tilt and played the ball back to Grealish.
But before the England international could get his shot, he was brought down by Osama Ashley. Grealish collected himself and converted the subsequent penalty for his first penalty of the season and City's fourth.
Makati then added a fifth shortly after the hour mark, following a precise cross from Doku. Doku then helped himself to the second goal when he scored from the penalty spot after the ball was ruled to have hit Tilt's arm.
Neat finishing by James McAtee 👌#MCISAL #BBC Football pic.twitter.com/LnNwiBDhBC
– BBC Sport (@BBC Sport) January 11, 2025
McAtee added another goal after a brilliant pass from Phil Foden before completing a hat-trick to add more misery to the League Two side.
Salford had a couple of half chances and gave a five-minute chance to 16-year-old Will Wright. But City went through the remainder of the contest largely without any problems.