FA Cup LIVE SCORES: Man City thrashing Class of 92-owned Salford 8-0 in huge derby, Leeds up against Harrogate – updates
Manchester City are putting on a masterclass at the Etihad, thrashing Class of ’92-owned Salford City in a dominant FA Cup third-round encounter.
With the Premier League champions fielding a mix of seasoned stars and promising young talents, they’ve dismantled their League Two opposition with a scoreline that now reads 8-0.
James McAtee, dubbed the ‘Salford Silva’ for his David Silva-like creativity, has been the star of the show, completing a superb hat-trick in the 81st minute. His third goal came via a clever move, sliding in to finish a well-placed Jack Grealish pass.
McAtee’s sharpness and movement have been emblematic of the gulf in class between the sides.
Earlier, Grealish ended his long goal drought by converting a penalty he won just after halftime. His grin toward Erling Haaland on the bench—after the Norwegian’s recent spot-kick struggles—was a light-hearted moment in an otherwise ruthless performance by City.
Jeremy Doku also added his name to the scoresheet with a composed penalty finish, while Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly made their mark with clinical strikes in the first half.
For Salford, this is a night they’d likely prefer to forget. The Class of ’92 contingent, including Ryan Giggs and other Manchester United legends in the directors’ box, have had little to cheer about. City’s relentless pressing, fluid passing, and clinical finishing have left their opponents chasing shadows.
In other FA Cup action, Leeds United lead Harrogate Town 1-0, thanks to a Largie Ramazani header, while Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle pulled off the upset of the day, defeating Premier League side Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Elsewhere, Chelsea cruised past Morecambe, and Trent Alexander-Arnold inspired Liverpool to victory against Accrington Stanley.
At the Etihad, the final moments of this match may be a formality, but City’s performance is a stark reminder of their strength and depth—even amid ongoing external scrutiny. Their focus now shifts to securing a place in the next round of this historic competition.
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