Carabao Cup
Manchester City shocked out of Carabao Cup
Pep Guardiola’s decision to name an understrength starting line-up backfired as Manchester City were beaten 2-0 by Southampton in Wednesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final tie.
Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ederson were among City’s substitutes at St Mary’s with Saturday’s league game against Manchester United in mind.
That proved costly as Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo — profiting from some poor Stefan Ortega positioning — had the Premier League’s bottom side two goals up at half-time.
The arrivals of De Bruyne and Erling Haaland gave City slightly more of an attacking edge but they could not find a route back into the game as they suffered a shock exit
Ortega did well to turn aside Duje Caleta-Car’s low effort but there was no stopping Mara’s first-time shot after the forward got in front of Kyle Walker to convert Lyanco’s cross.
Southampton had a second five minutes later when Djenepo cut inside, spotted Ortega well off his line and executed his lobbed finish from 30 yards to perfection.
Guardiola took action at the break by making a triple substitution, with Haaland also brought on 10 minutes later, but City’s response did not arrive on the south coast.
The visitors failed to register a single shot on target as they lost for the fourth time in 28 matches this season, and the first time since the World Cup break.
What does it mean? Saints stun City to reach semis
This is a competition City have won in six of the past nine years, but they paid for the five changes made to their line-up, which included Walker as a centre-back in a back four.
City’s substitutions made little difference as Southampton became only the third side after Man Utd (twice) and West Ham to get the better of Guardiola’s City in the EFL Cup.
The Saints, who are three points from safety in the Premier League, will join Man United, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in the semi-final draw later on Wednesday.
Shot-shy City shown up
Despite bringing on their big guns, plus having the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez in their side, City did not test Gavin Bazunu once.
It is the first time City have failed to hit the target in a game this campaign, while their seven shots in total is also a low in what was a terrible display from Guardiola’s men.
Mara makes his mark
Walker has proven he is a versatile defender, but he looked uncomfortable playing as a centre-back in a four-man defence and was hooked at half-time.
That was after Mara beat the England international to a right-sided cross for a crucial opening goal, with that his first for the club on what was his 16th outing.
What’s next?
City have that Manchester derby showdown to come on Saturday, while Southampton travel to fellow strugglers Everton later that day in a huge relegation showdown.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants defender Marc Guehi to be allowed to play in their League Cup final against Arsenal, saying the club will ask organisers to reconsider eligibility rules.
City booked their place at Wembley with a 3-1 home win over Newcastle United in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg, completing a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Competition rules make Guehi ineligible for the final because he featured earlier in the tournament for Crystal Palace, and joined City after the first leg of the semi-final.
“Why should he (Guehi) not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player,” Guardiola told reporters.
“You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play, for a rule I don’t understand. Hopefully they can change it.
“I told the club we must ask – hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final.”
The League Cup final between City and Arsenal is scheduled for March 22.
-Reuters
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Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said reaching Wembley for the first time since 2020 – thanks to a 4-2 aggregate League Cup semi-final win over Chelsea – would give his players a boost for a hectic season run-in.
“It’s the best vitamins we can put in our bodies because we are playing every three days,” Arteta told reporters after Arsenal beat their London rivals 1-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the final of England’s second domestic cup competition.
The Spaniard said the prospect of a return to Wembley for the first time since he guided his team to victory in the FA Cup final – also against Chelsea – six years ago was magical, before adding: “Now we are going to have to go and win it.”
Arsenal had failed to make it through their previous four major cup semi-finals – two in the League Cup and another two in Europe – before overcoming Chelsea on Tuesday.
With the visitors desperately seeking the goal they needed to level the tie on aggregate, former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz ran clear to score in the final moments of the semi-final second leg
The German has missed much of this season through injury and Arteta hailed his return to form.
“Today was a special moment for him and I hope that he fully enjoys it,” he said.
The Premier League leaders – who are also competing in the FA Cup and the Champions League – will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United who play their semi-final second leg on Wednesday with City 2-0 ahead from the first leg.
Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said his players’ disciplined performance showed how much the team had developed since the chaotic 3-2 home loss to Arsenal in last month’s first leg, which was only his second match in charge after replacing Enzo Maresca.
“Ultimately their goal comes when we’re throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That’s going to happen,” Rosenior said. “We can’t let this setback affect our future. There were aspects of our game that I am very happy with.”
He said winger Pedro Neto and club captain Reece James had not made the squad on Tuesday after picking up “small knocks” and he praised 18-year-old Brazil winger Estevao who made a 48-hour round trip to Brazil for compassionate reasons but was back in London to come off the bench for Chelsea in the second half.
-Reuters
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Omar Marmoush scored twice as Manchester City set up a League Cup final date with Arsenal after a comprehensive 3-1 second-leg victory over visiting Newcastle United secured a 5-1 aggregate win in their semi-final on Wednesday.
The home side were ruthless in the first half as Tijjani Reijnders also got on the scoresheet and now face Arsenal at Wembley on March 22 in a battle between City manager Pep Guardiola and his protege Mikel Arteta.
“We showed a very good mentality,” Marmoush told Sky Sports. “We were together as a team, from the first minute, we were very focused on the job. We showed our mentality and passion, and are very happy to reach the final.
“We are here to win trophies. We give our best every day to reach these finals and win silverware. Hopefully, we can do it for all the new players and also the players that were here.”
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, the last thing Newcastle needed was to concede early at the Etihad Stadium, but Marmoush’s shot deflected off defender Dan Burn and into the net inside six minutes.
The Egypt international added a second on the night with a close-range header from Antoine Semenyo’s cross. Marmoush has now scored 12 goals for City and five have come against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
A rampant City scored a third before halftime and Semenyo was involved again as he created the chance for Reijnders to finish.
Newcastle pulled a goal back just past the hour mark when substitute Anthony Elanga showed quick feet to work a shooting chance and curled his effort past James Trafford in the home goal.
Elanga missed two superb chances to reduce the deficit further, one scarcely believable from right in front of the goal, while Erling Haaland brushed the post at the other end.
City won four League Cup titles in a row between 2018 and 2021 and have eight in all; only Liverpool (10) have won it more.
Arsenal have not lifted the trophy in 33 years and have two previous wins.
-Reuters
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