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Four-time FA Cup winner Roy Keane was unimpressed by Manchester City top scorer Erling Haaland smiling after the visitors’ top scorer spurned several opportunities before his side fell behind at Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Haaland sent a free header wide, had a penalty saved and lifted a one-on-one opportunity over the crossbar before Bournemouth took a 21st-minute lead through Evanilson in pursuit of a semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Keane had urged City manager Pep Guardiola to imbue his players with more intensity for the second half, and the Manchester United legend’s words appeared to have an effect as Haaland struck an equaliser four minutes after the restart.
HAALAND’S PENALTY IS SAVED BY KEPA! ⛔️#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/PqvaHO7iMg
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 30, 2025
“He was lackadaisical,” Keane told ITV Sport at the break, adding that he “didn’t fancy” the 24-year-old when he stepped up to hit his spot kick.
“He was smiling after he missed the second [chance]. City are strolling around the place – it’s getting on my nerves. They have no conviction, no physicality. It’s not a good sign.”
POV: You’re in the home end when this happens…#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/uBDbiTddFj
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 30, 2025
Bournemouth vs Man City: Haaland ‘should score’
Haaland had a golden chance to score his 30th goal in all competitions in 2024/25 when Tyler Adams was penalised for handball inside the Bournemouth box, only for goalkeeper Kepa to guess correctly to his left and ensure the Norway talisman has missed three of his seven penalties this season.
There were mocking jeers from the home fans when Haaland broke clear inside the penalty area on the left channel shortly afterwards and lifted his finish beyond the advanced Kepa and over the crossbar.
BOURNEMOUTH TAKE THE LEAD! ⚽️
It keeps getting better and better for the Cherries 🍒 #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/J5lrGjZK64
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 30, 2025
“I have to say, a free shot from 12 yards is probably the easiest chance you’re going to get,” former England defender Lee Dixon told the broadcaster, suggesting that Haaland could have been “a bit anxious”.
“For him, it’s on a plate. He just puts too much on it. If you watch it again, there’s a tiny little bobble on it just as he hits it. But he should score.”
CITY ARE RIGHT BACK IN THIS ONE! ⚽️
Nico O’Reilly puts it on a plate for Haaland and he’s not missing those 🍽️#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/W0npKotq1P
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 30, 2025
Erling Haaland penalty ‘not great’
“Kepa’s read it well,” said Keane, who won the competition in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004 with United, discussing the penalty. “It’s not a great strike – it’s not in a corner.
“They have to bring more intensity – it’s the quarter-final of the cup. Bournemouth don’t have to do anything fantastic, just sit in and pick them off.”
Guardiola made a change at half-time by bringing Nico O’Reilly on for defender Abdukodir Khusanov, and the wideman duly delivered a cross from the left to allow Haaland to tap in.
“Pep’s a genius,” former England defender Lee Dixon told the broadcaster. “He’s already flipped around a first-half performance, and it’s all come from O’Reilly in that sweeping left-back position.”