Man City on Tuesday 7th January 2020, continued their dominance in the Carabao Cup, as they thrashed local rival, Manchester United 1-3 at Old Trafford to take home an important way win in the first leg of the Semi-final of the league cup.
Man City who are still the defending champions of the Carabao Cup, outplayed Manchester United, that they went 0-3 up in the first half, with some world class performance. It could have been more, as United’s defence were torn apart!
The game changed in the second half, as United pressed higher, and although they did not create any chances to score, Marcus Rashford somehow was able to pull one back for United in the 70th, as they will be hoping for a turn around of event when the two meet again on Wednesday, 29 January, 2020.
City, who left Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus on the bench, started without a 4-4-2 system that saw Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne their furthest players forward.
It was Bernardo who broke the deadlock, with a superb strike from the edge of the box that arrowed into the top corner of the net.
Riyad Mahrez made it 2-0 when he ran on to Bernardo’s pass and rounded David de Gea, with the home side hopelessly exposed.
By now, United were chasing shadows and it was soon 3-0, as a swift breakaway ended with De Bruyne twisting Phil Jones inside out before seeing his shot saved by De Gea but ricochet in off Andreas Pereira.
United’s limp resistance and lack of threat saw them booed off by some supporters at the break but they at least showed some resolve when they emerged for the second half.
City seemed content with their advantage, and United at last began to enjoy time on the ball, although they did not force Claudio Bravo into any meaningful action before Rashford’s goal.
That came when the visitors, for once, gave the ball away cheaply and Mason Greenwood fed the England striker to run through and score.
United never threatened to deny City a famous victory however, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are left with a huge task if they are to stop them reaching their fourth final in five years.