FA Cup: Jack Grealish Scores 'Lionel Messi-Inspired' Goal In Manchester City’s 2-0 Win [Watch]

Jack Grealish scored a "Lionel Messi-inspired" goal in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Peterborough United in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

After a goalless first half, Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 60th minute before Grealish doubled his side’s lead seven minutes later.

In a post-match interview, Grealish revealed watching a few videos of Messi ahead of the game against Peterborough.

"It was unbelievable. It’s funny because before the game I was on the coach and I sit next to him and we were on Twitter and we saw a video of Messi, and he came up to me after the goal and said it’s just like we were watching before the game. Just like Messi! Me and Phil have that link up," Grealish was quoted by Man City’s media, as saying in the interview.

It was Grealish’s maiden goal in the FA Cup. Before joining Manchester City in the 2021 summer, the English midfielder had played 11 FA Cup matches. While he had made two assists, he hadn’t found the back of the net.

Following City’s shocking 3-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, the Etihad side has now won two straight games: 1-0 vs Everton in the league and 2-0 vs Peterborough in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Mahrez is enjoying his best season in English soccer. He has scored 19 goals, one more than he had scored in Leicester City’s 2015-16 title-winning campaign.

In 32 matches, across all competitions, in the underway season, the Algerian forward has netted 19 goals and seven assists for Manchester City.

"We know the quality Riyad has and he loves to play football. It's not a profession to him, it's a joy. He would play every single day," Guardiola hailed Mahrez, according to BBC Sport.

Manchester City were made to work hard for the win at the ABAX Stadium to progress to the quarter-final. Guardiola heaped praise on his side, saying “the quality of our players made the difference” in the end.

"We are in the next round and in the end, the quality of our players made the difference. They were brilliant goals. The quality of Riyad and the second goal the same. It was good. We created chances. All of them were brilliant," added Guardiola after his side’s 2-0 win, as per Man City’s official website.

Six-time winners Man City will discover their opponents for FA Cup quarters on Thursday.