Manchester City will get the chance to defend their EFL Cup title in the final against Aston Villa after beating Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate, despite Nemanja Matic – who was also sent off – inflicting a 1-0 defeat in Wednesday's second leg. (More Football News)
City produced a wonderful d💧isplay in the first meeting at Old T🎃rafford and were arguably unlucky to only win 3-1, though it proved to be enough to send Pep Guardiola's men to Wembley even though they failed to meet expectations at home.
Despite finding themselves under extreme pressure at times in the first🦂 half, United managed to go into the break ahead thanks to Matic's satisfyi🐈ng strike in the 35th minute, casting some uncertainty over City's command of the tie.
But United were unable to use that goal as a launchpad, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's me🅠n failed to craft further mea🅷ningful chances and Matic's late dismissal for a second booking effectively ended their hopes.
City looked eager 💛to kill off United's chances as early as possible, with Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez forcing David de Gea into fine𓃲 saves in the first seven minutes.
United weathered that s♏torm and took the lead just past the half-hour mark – Matic slamming a crisp half-volley into the bottom-right corner after Fred's delivery was only partially cleared.
Raheem Sterling seemingly erased United's lead just before half-time when he turned Bernardo Silva's pass home, but the England internati🦄onal had strayed offside.
Sterling had another opportunity in the 58th minute wh🧜en he was played through on goal, but after checking back to evade Victor Lindelof and then De Gea, he blazed his effort over from 12 yards꧅.
United were reduced to 10 men 14 minutes from time when Matic cynically tripped Ilkay Gundogan to halt a counter-attack, and City had little difficulty seeing out their aggregate win from there despite Aguero's 🎐late strike being disallowed for of🉐fside.
What does it mean? Bruno Fernandes arrival a necessity
Although United's midfield🎶 had plenty of bite from Fred and neat touches from Matic, creativity was sorely lacking – hence their difficulty to create opportunities.
Following Wednesday's 💟news United have agreed a deal with Sporting CP for Fernandes worth €80mi♋llion, it does at least seem as though the club's hierarchy is trying to solve their midfield issues.
De Gea gives United a chance
It is fair to say 🅘De Gea has come in for plenty of criticism over the past 18 months, and rightly so. But on Wednesday he showed just how important he can be for United, making💟 several vital saves. His efforts proved irrelevant in the end as his team lacked quality in attack, but he at least gave them a chance.
Sterling fails to shine
Sterling certainly gave Aaron Wan-Bissaka plenty to think about, but he made an unnecessarily early run for his goal tha﷽t was chalked o🌌ff and then spurned a wonderful chance to make it 1-1.
Key Opta Facts
- City are the third side to reach three consecutive EFL Cup finals after Liverpool (four in a row between 1981 and 1984) and Nottingham Forest (1978 to 1980).
- United have been eliminated at the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on six occasions – only Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham have been knocked out at this stage of the competition on more occasions (seven each).
- The Red Devils have won consecutive away matches against City for the first time since winning four in a row between November 1993 and November 2000, with each victory in that run coming in league games.
- Solskjaer is just the third manager to win two away matches against Guardiola in his managerial career, after Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.
- Matic was the first United player to score and be sent off in a gam🍸e since Wayne Rooney against West Ham in the Premier League back in September 2𝐆014.
What's next?
City go ജto Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, as Guardiola renews his rivalry with Jose Mourinho. United host Wolves the day before.
