Leicester City 1, Manchester City 1 (Man City win 3-1 on penalties) – Carabao Cup Quarter Final
Kevin De Bruyne’s glorious first half strike was cancelled out by Marc Albrighton’s second half equaliser as Leicester City kept up with the Manchester City to take their Carabao Cup tie to penalties.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter a miserable night in the rain, City won the shootout 3-1 with Oleksandr Zinchenko atoning for his earlier error in allowing Albrighton in to level the game to fire the winning spot kick past Danny Ward.
It wasn’t the best of shootouts, with 4 penalty misses, including an attempted Panenka by Raheem Sterling which went over the bar, although Blues ‘keeper Aro Muric made two crucial saves to ensure that City would go through.
Pep Guardiola made eight changes from the side that beat Everton at the weekend but still managed to put out a far more ambitious side than their hosts Leicester City.
Man of the match from the Everton win Gabriel Jesus was dropped to the bench as only Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi and Riyad Mahrez stayed in the side from the weekend line-up.
Instead of playing all reserves and kids, though, Guardiola picked some first team talent in a game played in grim and wet conditions.
Eric Garcia makes his Manchester City first team debut in the Carabao Cup win at Leicester City
There were eight full internationals in Guardiola’s side plus Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz who have reached the England and Spain U21 sides respectively and Eric Garcia who is still only 17 years old but has already played for the Spain U17 team.
Into the side came the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne alongside exciting talents Foden, Diaz, and Aro Muric while John Stones was deployed in the Fernandinho role in midfield.
Leicester’s much-changed team had former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho up front against a defensive partnership including Nicolas Otamendi and Garcia.
Garcia was making his competitive debut for the first team in the centre of defence after starting for City’s EDS side at Barnsley in the Checkatrade Trophy 2 weeks ago.
And Guardiola’s team also included Foden, Diaz, and Muric from the Manchester City Elite Development Squad – a sign of the quality being put out by City’s Academy.
Despite the eye catching starts for youngsters, it was inevitably De Bruyne who lit up the night with his first goal of the season after just 13 minutes.
It was a powerful hit, with little backlit, struck from outside the area after a shimmy and a deserved opener past Ward in the Foxes goal after Otamendi had slipped the ball to the Belgian.
Ward was getting more touches of the ball than his team mates but his opposite number wasn’t bored.
Muric saved from Demarai Gray as Leicester roused themselves but couldn’t make more of their chances and couldn’t raise themselves.
City had a penalty claim dismissed by VAR after Diaz went down at the end of a half of intense City pressure.
Despite a drop off in intensity for City in the second half De Bruyne was in imperious form and his passes found Aguero and Diaz but saw their efforts blocked as City could not convert their dominance in another goal to finish off the Foxes.
Raheem Sterling replaced Diaz in the 66th minute and City upped a gear, with Foden finding Mahrez for a curling shot which went wide.
Iheanacho made a mess of a great chance made by James Maddison as the home side reminded City to be more careful with the ball.
De Bruyne was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan after 71 minutes but it was the Foxes who levelled the tie when substitute Marc Albrighton volleyed Leicester level in the 73rd minute after Wilfred N’Didi’s ball caught Zinchenko out.
Gabriel Jesus came on as City’s last change, coming on for Aguero with 14 minutes to go and Leicester wobbled as Jesus claimed a penalty after being brought down by a Leicester defender.
Muric was quick off his line to clear the loose ball after Gray thought he was clean through as the Foxes finished strongly but couldn’t get past Muric in the penalty shootout – the Kosovo international saved from Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu as the holders booked their place in the semi-finals.
Leicester City 1, Manchester City 1 – Man City win the penalty shootout 3-1
Harry Maguire SCORES (1-0) – under the body of Muric into the bottom left corner.
Ilkay Gundogan SCORES (1-1) – beyond Ward into the bottom right corner.
Christian Fuchs MISSES (1-1). Fired over the crossbar.
Raheem Sterling MISSES (1-1). Tried a Panenka which went over the crossbar – Pep was not pleased.
James Maddison SAVED (1-1). Aro Muric dived and pushed away a poor spot kick easily despite a stuttering run up by the Leicester playmaker.
Gabriel Jesus SCORES (1-2). Despite a slip in his approach – the Brazilian’s penalty rolled over the line.
Caglar Soyuncu SAVED (1-2). Another weak attempt and Muric made another easy save.
Oleksandr Zinchenko SCORES (3-1). The Ukrainian chipped the ball into the roof of the net.