SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 9 hrs
Upcoming predictions and previews
OU
EFL Cup | Quarter-Finals
Dec 18, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
MC

1-3

Taylor (46')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Cancelo (22'), Sterling (50', 70')

Holders Man City safely see off Oxford threat to reach EFL Cup semis

:Headline: Result: Holders Man City safely see off Oxford threat to reach EFL Cup semis: ID:383347: from db_amp
Assistant coach Mikel Arteta watched Manchester City reach the last four of the Carabao Cup.

A brace by Raheem Sterling ensured Carabao Cup holders Manchester City remain on course to win the competition for a third consecutive year after a 3-1 victory over Oxford sent them through to a semi-final against local rivals Manchester United.

Matty Taylor cancelled out Joao Cancelo’s first-half opener 21 seconds into the second period, but that was as good as it would get for Karl Robinson’s side against Pep Guardiola’s men.

The Spaniard had shown the hosts plenty of respect with his team selection and despite a few scary moments, saw his players come through unscathed.

Guardiola went strong for the quarter-final tie, with Sterling captaining the XI and leading an attack which included Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and highly-rated Phil Foden.

City assistant coach Mikel Arteta was in attendance at Kassam Stadium and completing his duties despite speculation surrounding his future, with Arsenal said to be close to appointing him as their new head coach.

The visitors got proceedings underway after a minute’s applause for former Oxford manager Jim Smith and Ron Saunders, who took charge of both City and United.

Joao Cancelo scores the opener (Mike Egerton/PA)

Robinson’s side started brightly enough, but the Premier League champions were moving the ball around slickly and demonstrated that perfectly for the opener in the 22nd minute.

An 11-pass move saw the ball spread from the left-back position by Oleksandr Zinchenko out to the right before Foden released Cancelo and he fired home via a deflection for his first goal since moving to the club from Juventus.

Sterling should have made it 2-0 not long after, but chipped wide to continue his frustrating evening before Mahrez drilled into the side-netting six minutes before half-time.

It ensured City’s advantage was only one at the break and that proved decisive as merely 21 seconds into the second period Oxford were level.

Matty Taylor, not in picture, levels for Oxford (Leila Coker/AP)

Promising youngster Shandon Baptiste took a free-kick quickly and found Taylor, who cut inside Taylor Harwood-Bellis too easily and rifled into the bottom corner to delight the home crowd.

Oxford had stunned the visitors, but their joy was short-lived when City retook the lead in the 50th minute.

Angelino, in an unorthodox left-wing role, was given space and picked out Sterling, who was able to tap home for his 17th goal of the season.

To their credit, the League One outfit did not let the goal affect them and started producing wave after wave of attacks, which saw Guardiola turn to Gabriel Jesus in the 62nd minute.

Raheem Sterling wraps up victory for City (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ilkay Gundogan had been brought on by this point too and eventually he started to pull the strings, although his contribution to City’s third in the 70th minute was a giant hoof up field.

Substitute Jesus was released down the left and in identical fashion to his first, captain for the night Sterling was picked out in the area and slotted home to complete a brace.

The U’s continued to cause problems for City, but Jamie Mackie and Mark Sykes failed to find the net following promising situations and the visitors held on to progress into the last four.

amp_article__383347 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-12-18 22:16:03:
html db last update - 2019-12-18 22:16:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .