Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City are through to their fourth consecutive EFL Cup final after beating United 2-0 in a thoroughly entertaining clash at Old Trafford.
This semi-final tie was about bragging rights as well as a place in the final, and the Sky Blue half of the city will be smiling tomorrow after second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho saw off their hosts.
Here at SBOTOP, we had Pep Guardiola’s team at 1.56 to progress to the final, and having won the competition for the last three seasons they are favourites to make it four.
In a wonderful tribute to the great Colin Bell, who sadly passed away this week, the Sky Blues wore retro Number 8 shirts in honor of a Manchester City legend as they walked onto the pitch.
Highlights of the game
We hoped for a better contest than the dull 0-0 derby of three weeks ago and we certainly got it!
In the first five minutes the ball ended up in both goals, but on each occasion the offside flag intervened; City’s effort from Ilkay Gundogan was particularly tight. And then the Sky Blues’ keeper Zack Steffen made a good save to keep out a thunderous drive from Bruno Fernandes.
City put in a blistering performance to beat Chelsea last weekend and they were showing signs of the same tonight when Kevin de Bruyne smashed a shot against the upright after a flowing move. Take a look at the EFL 2021 highlights, it was a peach of a strike that rattled the post.
The first half continued in a pattern of Sky Blue possession and probing, while United looked dangerous on the break, but we made it to half-time at 0-0.
We didn’t have long to wait for a goal after the restart, though, and it came from an unlikely source. Scott McTominay pulled Raheem Sterling back in a dangerous position and from the free-kick, Phil Foden whipped in a superb cross which evaded everyone apart from John Stones, who kneed the ball into the net.
City went in search of a second. Joao Cancelo fired a screamer inches over the bar, then United keeper Dean Henderson made a fingertip save to keep out a Sterling header. The young keeper made an even better save when he tipped over a fierce strike from Riyad Mahrez.
But at 1-0 United were still in the match and as they upped their tempo Fernandes curled a shot just wide.
With roles reversed City were content to sit deeper and hope for an opportunity to kill the game on the break and it soon came. De Bruyne had a shot deflected over, and from the resulting free-kick Fernandinho met a headed clearance with a brilliantly struck volley low into the bottom corner of the net.
Key statistics
The Red Devils were unbeaten in the last three derbies without conceding a goal but, once again, the EFL 2021 betting odds backed the Sky Blues to win. And so it turned out this time as two second-half goals put their local rivals out of the EFL Cup semi-final for the second year running.
The result ends the Red Devils’ seven-match unbeaten run while Manchester City are now unbeaten in 12 games, and seven away from home.
The home team invariably struggles in this derby, winning just three of the last 15 matches between Manchester United and Manchester City.
What’s next?
So Manchester City will meet Spurs in the Carabao Cup final on April 25th. Jose Mourinho’s team booked their place with a 2-0 victory over Brentford as Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son were on target for the Spurs.
Next up, Manchester United have an FA Cup tie at home to Championship club Watford on Saturday, and they follow that up with a trip to Turf Moor on Tuesday to take on an improving Burnley in the Premier League.
The Clarets are still only five points clear of the bottom three and will be keen to keep their good run going, but United have a huge incentive: They can go top of the league with a draw or victory.
Manchester City entertain Championship opposition too in the FA Cup when Birmingham City head to the Etihad on Sunday, and then next Wednesday they host Brighton in the league. The Seagulls have been struggling to turn draws into wins and sit one place above the drop zone.
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