MAN CITY 3, EVERTON 1 (City won 4-3 on aggregate)
Manchester City won through to their fourth cup final in six seasons, but didn’t do it the easy way en route to victory against Everton.
When Everton took an early lead on the night to establish a 3-1 aggregate advantage, City’s prospects of reaching the final of the Capital One Cup appeared to be hanging by a thread.
But a spirited fightback and goals from Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero saw City book their Wembley place.
The introduction of De Bruyne proved pivotal as the substitute transformed City’s night. Within 10 minutes of his entrance, he scored City’s second goal and provided the assist for their decisive third.
It was not without a hint of controversy, though, as City’s second goal ought not to have stood as the ball had clearly gone out of play before Raheem Sterling cut it back to De Bruyne, a blunder by the match officials that incensed Toffees’ manager Roberto Martinez.
Martinez said: “The second goal was always going to be the key and it was a clear decision as the ball was out of play, and it affected the outcome of the semi-final.
“We feel so hurt as a few big decisions have recently not gone in our favour and not given us results.”
Martinez spoke of his pride at the way in which his team took on City “eye-to-eye” over the two legs.
He continued: “It is a sign we are developing as a team and a squad and we are on the right path. And we will be making sure we use the pain and disappointment to fulfil our potential and as motivation to do something special this season,”
City manager Manuel Pellegrini, unbeaten in seven head-to-heads with Martinez, was understandably elated.
“It is always special to play at Wembley and it should be a brilliant final with Manchester City and Liverpool , and it will be very difficult to win.”
Pellegrini added that they must forget about that and focus on the FA Cup and important Premier League games before the final.
City’s manager dismissed Everton’s complaint about the outcome saying his side deserved to win over the two legs.
He explained: “It was a game of 180 minutes and we played the semi final in an intelligent way.
“May be the referee made a mistake for our second goal, but at Goodison Park Everton’s first goal was clearly offside and we had a clear penalty for a foul on Raheem Sterling.
“Everton’s goal tonight should not have stood for a foul and we twice hit the post. We were the better team and deserved more to be in the final.”
City made three changes from the side that kicked off Saturday’s league fixture at West Ham.
Pellegrini continued with Willy Caballero as his preferred choice of goalkeeper in the Capital One Cup while there were also recalls for Fernandinho and Sterling.
The players to lose out were Joe Hart, Jesus Navas and De Bruyne such is the fierce competition for starting spots.
City had all the early pressure, but Everton defended resolutely before snatching the lead in the 20th minute on the break and against the run of play.
Barkley picked up the ball in the centre of the field and cut in from the left almost unopposed before firing a drive low to Caballero’s right for a fabulous solo effort for his first goal in 12 games.
City’s immediate response was a shot from Sterling that forced a diving save from Joel Robles.
City were only behind four minutes, but there was more than an element of good fortune about their equaliser.
Aguero’s initial shot was blocked before the rebound fell invitingly to the Brazilian whose 25-yard drive struck Leighton Baines before looping over Robles for his fourth goal of the season.
It was Everton’s turn to enjoy a slice of good fortune after 36 minutes. Aguero cut in from the left and his 25-yard drive struck the upright before rebounding to Silva whose shot was well saved by Robles.
City brought on Navas for Fabian Delph at the restart.
Everton had a chance to regain the lead early in the second half when Gerard Deulofeu raced clear from half way and cut inside before forcing an important save from Cabellero.
City were denied by the frame of the goal for a second time when Silva headed a Pablo Zabaleta cross against the upright.
Everton made a double switch on the hour bringing on Arouna Kone and James McCarthy for Deulofeu and Leon Osman.
Pellegrini’s second change came mid-half when De Bruyne took over from Yaya Toure who had a quiet game.
De Bruyne had been on the field for less than four minutes when he put City ahead on the night and 3-3 overall.
Sterling cut the ball back from the by-line – replays suggested the ball was clearly out of play – for De Bruyne to provide a clinical finish for his fifth goal in five Capital One Cup games as he had netted in every round.
And De Bruyne’s dramatic impact on the game continued as he provided the assist for City’s third goal as they took an overall 4-3 lead.
The Belgium crossed from the right and Aguero, 12 yards out, glanced a header low to the right of Robles, his fifth goal in his last three games and seven in his last seven.
City then sacrificed Silva for Fernando Reges, a clear ploy to hold on to their slender advantage over the two legs.
De Bruyne was taken from the field on a stretcher after 90 minutes with what appeared a nasty knee injury that was later confirmed as suspected damaged medial ligaments.
It left City to play the five minutes of added time with 10 men, something they successfully negotiated to book their Wembley place.
And while Everton bemoaned their misfortune, City deserved their success on the night having 19 goal attempts to Everton’s four. Apart from scoring three goals, they struck the woodwork twice as Wembley beckoned.