Man City’s Zinchenko-led side advances to the FA Cup quarterfinals

Manchester City qualified to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Peterborough on Tuesday, captained by Oleksandr Zinchenko, with two goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish each.

In his first appearance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian international Zinchenko was given the armband.

Fernandinho had been named as City’s captain for the match, but the Brazilian who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, offered the position to Zinchenko as a “show of unity”.

With the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Zinchenko attended an anti-war vigil in Manchester City centre and sent a “since-deleted” social media message that was deeply critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zinchenko and Peterborough captain Frankie Kent held a Ukrainian flag together as they led the teams out at the start of the match.

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Once the action got underway, Guardiola’s men took time to make the breakthrough against a side sitting bottom of the Championship.

Mahrez was one of six changes made by Guardiola and took his tally for the season to an impressive 19 goals in just 32 appearances.

The Algerian cleverly guided the ball into the far corner from a narrow angle on the hour mark.

Grealish has had a far less productive season since his £100 million ($134 million) move from Aston Villa.

But he marked his return from injury with a sublime touch to control Phil Foden’s long through ball before slotting past Steven Benda for his fourth City goal.

Inputs from agencies