Oxford United 1, Manchester City 3
Manchester City will face rivals Manchester United in the semi finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Oxford United 3-1 at the Kassam Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the second season I a row that City had visited Oxford who this season had easily disposed of Premier League West Ham.
Raheem Sterling scored twice in the second half after Matty Taylor had cancelled out Joao Cancelo’s deflected 22nd minute opener just seconds into the second half.
It was the Portuguese full back’s first goal for City and City could have doubled this with a shot by Phil Foden which was saved by Jordan Archer.
Oxford gave City plenty to think about during the second half, taking 18 shots on the City goal, with 5 on target – actually edging their visitors out on shots on target (5 versus 4).
But City were clinical with their finishing and deservedly went through to the semi finals after Angelino’s cross set up Sterling for a 5 yard tap in to put City into the lead.
And Gabriel Jesus set up Sterling with another cross from the left and another tap in from 5 yards.
Cancelo hit the woodwork as City looked for more goals as City cruised to victory despite allowing Oxford an unprecedented 18 shots on goal with Claudio Bravo keeping them at bay.
After the game, talk moved to the likely exit of assistant manager Mikel Arteta who was heavily linked to his former club Arsenal before the game.
But the semi final draw will focus minds – two more Manchester derbys with United hosting the next one on the week commencing January 6, and City hosting the return leg on week commencing January 27.
MATCH STATS – Oxford United 1, Manchester City 3
Oxford United: Archer, Long, Dickie, Moore, Ruffels, Baptiste (Moutinho 87), Gorrin, Brannagan, Agyei (Sykes 57), Taylor (Mackie 75), Fosu-Henry
Oxford United subs not used: Stevens, Cadden, Hall, Henry
Goal: Taylor 46
Man City: Bravo, Cancelo, Harwood-Bellis, Garcia, Zinchenko, Foden, Rodri (Gundogan 59), Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Sterling (Bernabe 76), Angelino (Jesus 62)
Man City subs not used: Carson, Mendy, Otamendi, Diounkou
Goals: Cancelo 22; Sterling 50, 70
Referee: Andy Madley