Hat-Trick Hero James McAtee Leads Manchester City to a 9-0 Victory Over Salford City
A Clinical Display at the Etihad
Manchester City turned in a stunning performance at the Etihad Stadium, dismantling Salford City 9-0 in their FA Cup third-round tie. The match saw a dominant display from City, with James McAtee’s hat-trick being the highlight of a one-sided encounter.
City started the game strong, with Jérémy Doku opening the scoring in the 9th minute after a well-executed counter-attack. The hosts continued to press, and by the 21st minute, Dan Mubama marked his senior debut with a goal to put City 2-0 up. Nathan O’Reilly added a third just before halftime, capitalizing on excellent build-up play by Doku, making it 3-0 at the break.
A Flurry of Goals in the Second Half
The second half was more of the same as City displayed their attacking prowess. Jack Grealish scored from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after being fouled inside the box. McAtee then took control of the game, scoring a quick-fire hat-trick with goals in the 63rd, 73rd, and 82nd minutes. Each goal showcased his composure and clinical finishing, with one coming from a clever assist by Doku.
Salford City showed moments of promise but were repeatedly thwarted by City’s defensive line and goalkeeper Ederson. The visitors were unlucky not to get a consolation goal, with a decent effort from their top scorer, Stockton, narrowly missing the target in the 77th minute.
City’s Unstoppable Form
City’s performance was hailed as a return to their best, with Pep Guardiola’s side showing ruthless efficiency throughout. McAtee’s hat-trick, coupled with standout performances from Doku and Grealish, ensured that City’s young players proved their worth on the big stage. For Salford, it was a night to forget as they will now shift focus back to their League Two promotion chase.
While the result will undoubtedly boost City’s confidence, more challenging opponents await in the next rounds of the competition. As for Salford, their Class of ’92 owners will have to take the positives from the experience as they aim to continue their push for promotion.
The final whistle blew with the scoreline at 9-0, a dominant display that left City fans in jubilant spirits.
