Although 2021 champions Leicester lost shockingly 2-1 to lower-league Blackburn on Tuesday, Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory against Bristol City.

PHOTO | COURTESY Rovers eliminates 2021 Champions Leicester City

In the fifth-round game at Ashton Gate, Pep Guardiola's club never really faced a threat of a giant killing courtesy of Foden's double and a late winner from Kevin De Bruyne.

Guardiola praised the England attacker's Contribution to Foden, who is starting to rediscover his top form after a shaky season.

His career went up, up, and up. He had some difficulties this season and was not himself. But now that he's back, the season's finest part can begin, according to Guardiola.

"His influence has been phenomenal. When you put in the work as he does, football pays off.

Wednesday's match between Everton and Premier League leaders Arsenal leads the defending champions by two points. Should provide City with another lift.

"In three contests, we're still in the running. We'll see what transpires later", added Guardiola.

As Riyad Mahrez crossed to the far post and Foden shot into the far corner of the goal in the seventh minute, City seized the lead.

At 74 minutes, Foden doubled City's advantage after Julian Alvarez flicked the ball in his direction. Foden then beat Max O'Leary with another precise finish.

The sixth FA Cup champions had the most accessible nights thanks to De Bruyne's long-range goal in the 81st minute.

Blackburn prevented Leicester from winning the FA Cup a second time in three seasons, and the Foxes left the field heads down.


PHOTO | COURTESY Rovers player celebrates in front of Leicester City players

In 2021, Brendan Rodgers guided Leicester to the club's first-ever FA Cup victory, but Rovers crushed the Premier League team's hopes of replicating that run by punishing shoddy defending.

Rodgers made six changes to the team that lost to Arsenal at the weekend, while Leicester was 14th in the Premier League and just three points above the relegation zone. His risk backfired, and the team suffered as a result.

"If anyone is to blame, it would be me. Sadly, despite my changes, it didn't work, Rodgers stated.

"We included four FA Cup champions from previous seasons in the starting lineup. But we need to be concerned because they were superior to us".

Tyrhys Dolan's curling goal from the edge of the box in the 33rd minute gave Rovers the lead and advanced them into the round of eight for the first time since 2015.

After some intense work, Sammie Szmodics made it 2-0 seven minutes after the half through Sam Gallagher.

PHOTO | COURTESY Man City advances to the FA quarter finals

Harvey Barnes' assist to Kelechi Iheanacho resulted in a goal in the 67th minute, but Blackburn managed to hold on.

Solomon Makes Another Attack.

After Fulham defeated Leeds 2-0 at Craven Cottage, Victor Solomon scored for the fourth time in four games to help Fulham advance to the round of eight for the first time since 2010.

Joao Palhinha's exquisite 25-year curler gave Fulham, who have surpassed all expectations to move up to sixth place in the Premier League this season, the lead in the 21st minute.

In the 56th minute, Israel forward Solomon, who was playing on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, scored the winning goal against Leeds by curling in from the edge of the area following a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Returning to the FA Cup final for Fulham would be the first since 1975.

Yet, it was the new Leeds manager Javi Gracia's first loss after his team defeated fellow strugglers Southampton 1-0 last weekend in the Premier League.

Brighton advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time in the previous six years by defeating second-tier Stoke 1-0.

The Seagulls, who defeated league champions Liverpool in the fourth round, are still vying to play in the FA Cup final for the first time since 1983.

The game-winning goal for Brighton came in the 30th minute when 18-year-old attacker Evan Ferguson finished from close range after receiving a ball from Kaoru Mitoma.

The League Cup champions Manchester United visit West Ham in one of the four fifth-round matches still to be played on Wednesday. Tottenham will go to Sheffield United.