LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City survived a penalty shoot-out to reach the League Cup semi-finals as young keeper Arijanit Muric starred in the dramatic finale to the holders' win over Leicester on Tuesday (Dec 18).
Pep Guardiola's side took the lead when Kevin De Bruyne marked his return from injury with a fine finish in the first half at the King Power Stadium.
Marc Albrighton cancelled out De Bruyne's first goal since April with a late equaliser to set up the 3-1 shoot-out win.
Muric, making his second City appearance in place of the rested Ederson, stole the spotlight as the 20-year-old Kosovo international made two penalty saves to clinch his team's last four berth.
Just hours after Guardiola's old rival Jose Mourinho was sacked by Manchester United after their worst start for 28 years, City could afford to make eight changes and still went through as they chase the third trophy of the Guardiola era.
No wonder City fans cheekily chanted "bring back Mourinho".
Both managers prioritised their forthcoming Premier League matches, with Guardiola making eight changes and Claude Puel seven, including resting star striker Jamie Vardy.
Despite all the switches, City had 87 percent of the possession in the early stages and their pressure was rewarded in the 14th minute.
De Bruyne took control on the left edge of the Leicester area, cleverly shifted the ball onto his right foot before unleashing a low drive that zipped through the legs of Hamza Choudhury and past goalkeeper Danny Ward.
It was a cathartic moment for De Bruyne in only his seventh appearance of a frustrating season ravaged by two knee injuries.
The Belgium midfielder was making his first start since being injured in City's League Cup win over Fulham on November 1.
Riyad Mahrez was making his first return to Leicester following his move to City in the close-season.
The Algeria winger almost doubled City's lead when he pounced on Brahim Diaz's shot and smashed a volley just over.
Muric kept his side's lead intact when he sprawled to the left to repel a long-range drive from Demarai Gray that appeared destined for the bottom corner.
MURIC SHINES
Sergio Aguero, back from an injury that sidelined him for three weeks, should have put City two up moments after half-time.
However, the Argentine forward shot too close to Ward after running onto Mahrez's pass.
Leicester drew level in the 73rd minute when Wilfred Ndidi lofted a pass that picked out Albrighton's run behind Oleksandr Zinchenko and the substitute slammed a fierce strike into the far corner.
Guardiola's men had beaten Leicester on penalties at the same stage of the League Cup last season.
Leicester had more recent spot-kick success after beating Wolves and Southampton on penalties in the previous two rounds, but it was City who prevailed again.
Leicester's Christian Fuchs and City's Raheem Sterling both shot over.
Muric seized the moment with saves to deny James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu before Zinchenko drilled in the winner.
Third tier Burton are into the semi-final for the first time in their history after a shock 1-0 win at Championship promotion chasers Middlesbrough.
Sixth in the second tier, Middlesbrough made a host of changes and were punished by their lowly opponents.
Burton, 15th in League One, are the first team from the third tier or lower to reach the semi-finals since Sheffield United in 2014-15.
Jake Hesketh put Nigel Clough's side into the lead in the 48th minute, the on-loan Southampton midfielder firing home from the edge of the area.
Clough won the League Cup twice as a player with Nottingham Forest in 1989 and 1990.
Get the latest Penn State Nittany Lions football news, rumors, schedules, photos, and stats. Find comprehensive coverage of playoffs, history, players, and more at PennLive.com.
Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of
Cardiff players afraid to fly after Emiliano Sala tragedy
As Singapore legend Kadir Yahaya looks to guide Tampines first-team head coach Gavin Lee to a successful season, he urged all local football coaches to show more respect and dedication to their role. The Stags started their 2019 season with a bang after sealing a 3-1 comeback victory away to Yangon United in the AFC Cup […]
Jesus saves Man City with last-gasp winner | Daily Nigerian
Guardiola sorry City awarded 'offside' goal - theworldnews.net
He's great to watch, but he's not God: Pope sets fans straight on Lionel Messi For Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi is 'D10S', a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "dios" - with the No 10 on his shirt.
Football. Manchester United. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1, again. Wolves quickly settled down on a cold and raucous night at Molineux and began
Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1 - Football
Bottom club Huddersfield Town ended their eight-match losing streak in the Premier League with a goalless draw at fellow strugglers Cardiff City on Saturday.Cardiff, in 17th place, did not manage a shot on target and Huddersfield were left fuming over a decision from referee Lee Mason.
Cardiff City vs. Huddersfield Town - Football Match Report
Harry Kane will start the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid having been passed fit to play for Tottenham. The striker has not featured since April 9 but returns to the starting team.
Kane starts for Tottenham in Champions League final - Daily
Football: Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid. Neymar will miss Wednesday's Champions League last-16 return leg against Manchester United with the metatarsal problem he suffered six weeks ago.
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid | Deccan Herald
Manchester City have recorded a dramatic 3-2 victory over Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night. City took an early lead through Sergio Aguero, but two penalties from Nabil Bentaleb gave Schalke a half-time advantage and City were left further
Result: Manchester City stun Schalke 04 with late comeback in
The family of Emiliano Sala has paid tribute to the footballer after police confirmed it was his body that was pulled from the wreckage of a missing airplane in the English Channel. The 28-year
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Beckham known as his former group LA Galaxy his "circle of relatives" and thanked Los Angeles for embracing him on the unveiling of his statue prior to the Main League Football membership's season-opener on Saturday.
Beckham salutes LA Galaxy and Los Angeles as statue unveiled
Corrected: Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help
Chelsea could axe transfer after Maurizio Sarri decision - deal deadline is close Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd 'agreement', Arsenal signing close, Pepe in Liverpool talks Liverpool fans love what Gini Wijnaldum did to Man City's Bernardo Silva in Nations League West Ham new boy Roberto makes huge gaffe in first interview - fans in stitches
Sources: Chelsea won't axe Sarri, Juve to pay - global.espn.com
global.espn.com/football/chelsea/story/3859204/sources-chelsea-wont-axe-sarrijuve-to-pay
Sources have told ESPN FC that while Chelsea are prepared to negotiate a compensation package with any interested club if Sarri makes it clear that he wants to leave, they have no plans to dismiss him even if he fails to win a first piece of major silverware at Arsenal's expense in Baku.
Chelsea backroom staff 'convinced they are set for Stamford
0 comments:
Post a Comment