CARLOW NATIVE PÁDRAIG Amond scored a sublime first-time finish from a corner as Newport County stunned Middlesbrough 2-0 in the FA Cup tonight.
The Irishman’s goal on 67 minutes doubled the League Two side’s advantage after Robbie Willmott had opened the scoring shortly after half-time.
Dublin-born centre-back Mark O’Brien also featured in the surprise win over the Championship outfit.
Michael Flynn’s side will now face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the competition’s fifth round on 16 February.
👏 | Straight from the training ground! pic.twitter.com/JDctKtMkwk
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 5, 2019
Newport were more than worthy of their win as they dominated from start to finish under torrential rain at Rodney Parade and on a mudbath of a pitch that City will not relish.
“It’s nothing more than we deserved tonight, we were absolutely outstanding,” said Newport boss Mike Flynn.
“They can match Championship players. I don’t know what it is with them. We can play like that but not every week in League Two.”
A penalty appeal for handball by Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton was waved away and 40-year-old Greek goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos made a string of saves to keep Tony Pulis’s side level at the break.
However, Konstantopoulos could not keep out Willmott’s strike from outside the box two minutes into the second period and Amond fired a well-worked corner into the top corner 23 minutes from time to send Newport into the last 16 for the first time in 70 years.
“They were the better team, they ran all over us. It was men against boys. Forget the conditions, you have to match people and that’s the real disappointment,” said Pulis.
“Give them credit, they were fantastic tonight and they deserve their win.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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