FA CUP: MAHREZ ON TARGET TWICE

Algeria national team skipper RiyadMahrez was on target twice as Premier League champions Manchester City came from behind to beat lower league opposition Fulham 4-1 at home in the fourth round of the FA Cup. In the battle of the leading teams from the top two divisions of English football, Manchester City proved to have too much qualify for Championship leaders Fulham with Algeria international Mahrez netting two of the goals.

Manchester City are the pacesetters in the Premier League at the moment, while Fulham are currently the leaders in the English Championship and they met at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to determine the sole recipient of the fifth round from the fourth round FA Cup tie.

Premier League holders Manchester City were the overwhelming favourites, but they had to live up to the status the hard way after coming from behind to seal the win in emphatic style.

Fulhamtook the lead in the fourth minute through Portuguese youngster Fabio Carvalho who came close to joining Merseyside giants Liverpool on the final day of last month’s winter transfer window. The reply to going behind was almost instant from Manchester City thanks to the sixth minute strike from German midfielder IlkayGundogan off the assist from Algeria international Mahrez.

Manchester City took the lead for the first time in the game through England defender John Stones off the assist from Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. The goal from Stones gave City a slender lead at the break. Mahrez then scored two goals in the second half for the Citizens to make it a comprehensive win. The first of his two goals came from the penalty spot in the 53^rd minute after Jack Grealish was brought down. Mahrez put the game beyond the reach of Fulham with the fourth goal four minutes later.