Bernardo Silva inspired Manchester City to an emphatic win over Manchester United, putting them on course for another EFL Cup final.
Match Report
Manchester City have one foot in a third consecutive EFL Cup final after dispatching Manchester United 3-1 in the first leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford.
Beaten 2-1 by their local rivals in the Premier League a month ago, Pep Guardiola sprung a tactical surprise by starting with no recognised striker in a strong-looking line-up.
The move proved inspired as City tore through a United defence that was missing the injured Harry Maguire, with Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an Andreas Pereira own goal putting them 3-0 up at the break.
Marcus Rashford got a goal back to give United a glimpse of hope ahead of the second leg in three weeks, but a first final since they won the competition in 2017 already looks beyond them.
Match Events
8' CHANCE! Rashford's first attempt blocked by Fernandinho
United counter and his first touch burns past Otamendi, allowing the forward to cross low beyond Bravo.
Fernandinho is on hand to clear. United stay on the front foot, but a poor Fred shot is miscued to the offside Rashford.
17' GOAL! Man Utd 0-1 Man City (Bernardo Silva)
It's a stunner from Bernardo Silva! City have dominated possession and, after some plodding passing, Walker accelerates the move and squares to the midfielder.
Still 25 yards from goal, he thunders a left-footed drive across De Gea into the top-left corner.
25' CHANCE! Sterlingโs shot blocked
Two last-ditch blocks deny Sterling! Walker is causing all sorts of problems and a lovely one-two with De Bruyne sees him in behind Williams.
An accurate low cross finds Sterling, who shoots first against Lindelof and then against Jones. United survive, but back come City.
33' GOAL! Man Utd 0-2 Man City (Mahrez)
A stunning counter-attack and Mahrez makes it two! Glorious play from Bernardo Silva, who drives his team forward this time, the scorer turning provider with a stunning pass in behind Lindelof.
35' Yellow Card! Lingard booked
United are getting a little frustrated, unable to gain any measure of control over this game. Lingard's challenge on Fernandinho certainly lacked control, a lunge into the City captain punished with a card.
39' OWN GOAL! Man Utd 0-3 Man City (Andreas Pereira)
Ruthless! James' poor touch on the edge of the area allows City to break. Bernardo Silva again frees Mahrez, who this time is brilliantly tracked by Williams.
A desperate tackle merely plays in De Bruyne, though, the midfielder chopping into space with a stunning touch.
De Gea blocks the shot but the rebound strikes Pereira. The ball is in the net once again.
52' Yellow Card! Fred booked
Some noise at last from the home faithful. Fred trips Mahrez and goes into the book, prompting whistles.
54' POST! Mahrez almost score a second goal
Lovely pass from Mendy from right to left gets Mahrez back on the ball after his initial corner is cleared.
The winger is in behind Williams and, from a tight angle, thunders a right-footed drive against the base of the post.
De Gea may have had it covered, but Mahrez is enjoying himself up against Williams.
63' Yellow Card! Rodri booked
Rodri is getting the hang of these tactical City fouls there is so much discussion about. He chops down Pereira as the United man runs at the away defence.
70' GOAL! Man Utd 1-3 Man City (Rashford)
It's 3-1! Seconds after City fans were cheering each pass, United break - as they did in the league last month - and Rashford finishes clinically into the bottom-left corner.
73' Yellow Card! Brandon Williams booked
Williams was lucky to avoid a card earlier for a wild swipe at Mahrez.
He is shown yellow this time, though, shoving the same player to the ground as he goes up for a header.
82' Yellow Card! Walker booked
Walker goes into the book for time-wasting with a throw-in, City again choosing to slow the game.
88' SAVE! Bravo parries Rashford long shot
Rashford, under no pressure, lines up a shot from 20 yards.
It fizzes straight at Bravo, whose handling is questionable, the goalkeeper dropping the shot just wide of his left-hand post.
Dwise
3986
Being a Manchester United fanโ should be added to 1000 ways to die
Nadan7
3632
Pep used his Golf club ๐๏ธโโ๏ธto hammer the Red devil on the head
elnilsen99
2250
due to the defeat by Manchester city the "theatre of dreams" is now called the "theatre of realities"[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
easymind
1049
Shocking scenes at Old Trafford as stewards force Man United fans to stay until full-time.[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Odayalkaabi
1010
This is how Ole instructed his player's to come back with a goal in the half time
Mosanya
918
Meanwhile also Manchester United, one of the best in photoshop wanting this players to join ๐๐
BEARDO7
909
2 Rules to succeed in Modern Football Rule.1 : Never underestimate Jesse Lingardinho . Rule.2 : Never believe the Rule no.1 .
footballworldfresh
843
when u realize robin hood was robbed tonight
Jsmooth
831
Legends say that Phil Jones is still sliding after KDB left him for dead
spalbar
768
OLE OUT......
UCLbaby
677
Analysis of todayโs match: 1)Pep turned Bernardo Silva into Messi tonight 2)De Bruyne is the best midfielder no questions asked 3)Mharez is on fire ๐ฅ๐ฅ 4)Lingard and Fred should retire from professional football 5)Phil Jones is the worst defender in the galaxy 6)Pep is the master of tactical football 7)Manchester is blue for probably the next decade or so Manchester United should just get relegated and try and win the Championships
Mosanya
561
When I saw Lingard and Jones in the straight line up, I knew something bad was going to happen ๐๐๐
abdoolmk
519
Official: Man United to appeal to FA to cancel the second leg[Crylaugh]
Special-Raider
502
Winning at Old Trafford Is so difficult this days that Even Manchester United finds it hard to win [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Mosanya
416
What A Way To Lose The First Manchester Derby Of The New Decade!๐๐๐
Profnick
374
Pep showed us why is his ranked amongst the most elite managers in the world, his tactic were on point, he dominated and got the result sealed in the first half. Ole did make some changes, pushed his press higher up, got in a better holding midfielder and squeezed the midfield, the introduction of Angel Gomes was a master stroke which only came too late in my view, we got a goal, Today we saw the importance of Harry Maguire in that squad, the first and third goal could have been stopped by a defender of his intelligence, anyway City Outclassed us, Manchester is theirs till we visit the Etihad again
TheRiddick27
366
ole HAS to go. He's a MU legend and keeps the United faithful off the directors backs but he's not nearly experienced to be managing a club as big as man u. And that's before you take this whole transitional thing into the equation! He doesn't motive those below average millionaires. He's not tactically astute. So what exactly is Ole bringing to the table? things are even worse than under Jose and his obligatory self-sabotage! If Man U don't act now they'll do a Liverpool an have to wait 30 years for their next title. ok, maybe they aren't Liverpool of the last 3 decades bad, but it's pretty awful! and why are they in the hunt for young players who have a few decent games but haven't achieved anything? Sancho, Calvert-lewin etc?
Deeq24
285
Can we super glue those seat belts please. ๐๐
Carolo
175
GIF GIF GIF!: http://bit.ly/35uSdjC