BRISTOL CITY 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Manager Lee Johnson raced down the touchline at the end of this contest at Ashton Gate, celebrating a timeless Korey Smith winner as his Bristol City beat a very strong Manchester United side in the Carabao Cup.
Local boy Joe Bryan had given City the lead in the 51st minute only for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to level matters just seven minutes later. United tried hard to find a winner but were stunned by an injury time strike by Smith with the game seconds away from extra time.
Holders United were the fourth Premier League scalp of the season for the Robins after they beat Watford, Stoke City and Crystal Palace in the earlier rounds to reach the quarter finals.
With fans all over the pitch after the final whistle and jubilation all round after Bristol City recorded their first win over United since 1978 in their first meeting since 1980 it was the kind of celebration that wouldn’t go down well with Reds boss Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese had fielded a team fully capable of beating their Championship hosts despite ten changes from the side that beat West Brom last weekend – only Marcus Rashford was retained from that side last weekend.
United’s team also included Sergio Romero, Matteo Darmian, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Daley Blind, Paul Pogba – back from a three match ban, Anthony Martial, and Zlatan Ibrahomovic – who was handed the captain’s armband on his first start of the season for the Reds.
Johnston made just one change, and an emotional one, with former United ‘keeper Luke Steele drafted into his side as his regular Cup ‘keeper.
City had ridden their luck after United twice hit the woodwork through Ibrahimovic and Rashford while Aden Flint’s goal was ruled out for a foul on Romero.
Both United strikers also went close but were wasteful and the Reds were duly punished early in the second half after City academy product Joe Bryan scored his third goal in four games for City.
Ibrahimovic levelled the scores seven minutes later with a low free kick around the wall that took a deflection, after Paul Pogba had been fouled.
It was Ibrahimovic’s first United goal in 255 days after his injury in April.
Steele, a 2002 signing for United who never appeared for the Reds, produced a string of saves including from Pogba and Romelu Lukaku, while Jamie Paterson fired over for City.
With the game heading towards Extra Time, and three minutes into added time, Matty Taylor slipped in Korey Smith chested the ball down, turned, and fired City into the semi-finals with a strike into the bottom corner.
Bristol City get Manchester City reward for Carabao Cup heroics
Bristol City players could relish a chance at a crack at Manchester City’s unbeaten domestic record this season after they were drawn to face Pep Guardiola’s side who beat Leicester City in a penalty shootout yesterday.
CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW
Chelsea v Arsenal
Man City v Bristol City
Ties will be played in the weeks of January 8 and January 22. Manchester City’s first leg against Bristol City will be played at the Etihad Stadium.