MAN CITY 0, MAN UNITED 1
(City won 3-2 on aggregate)
Manchester City were made to sweat before claiming a place in the final of the Carabao Cup for the third successive season.
Their Old Trafford neighbours won for a second time at the Etihad in less than two months, having earlier triumphed in the Premier League.
It was a nervy night for City who lacked their usual aura as they were unusually disjointed, but scraped a 3-2 aggregate victory over the two legs of their semi-final.
However, City still had enough chances to win more comfortably and United were at times indebted to goalkeeper David De Gea.
City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side was wasteful in front of goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe said: “We created enough chances, but that was the difference.
“We conceded few chances, but they scored from a set-piece with their first shot and only had one shot in the second half.
“I am satisfied, especially with our problems in the back four with the injuries we have.
“I was really pleased as in the 180 minutes of both games we were the better team.”
Guardiola spoke of his delight of making the final for a third year in a row, only the third team to have achieved the feat.
While some clubs treat it as a “humble competition”, City’s manager explained that was not the case for his team.
“In my previous 10 or 11 years as a manager, whatever competition we have tried to win it,” he said.
“I am incredibly delighted to win and happy to be in the final against a historical team like Aston Villa.”
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it was a bitter-sweet night.
“It is a strange feeling going out yet winning the game,” he said.
Solskjaer was unhappy with Nemanja Vidic’s sending off, claiming his first offence did not warrant a yellow card.
He said: “I don’t want to sit here talking about the referee, but about my players and their attitude and character.
“To come here and win twice in six weeks, which is hard to do, as shows when we have struggled to do that twice in 10 years.
“I am proud how far these boys have come and where they can go if they show the same attitude and character moving forward.”
City made five changes from the side that beat Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday.
There were recalls for Kyle Walker, Rodrigo, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero at the expense of Eric Garcia, Angelino, Phil Foden, David Silva and Gabriel Jesus.
United had four changes from Sunday’s 6-0 FA Cup win at Tranmere Rovers.
De Gea returned in goal, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams to defence and Fred to midfield.
The players to miss out were Sergio Romero, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones and Andreas Pereira.
De Gea was twice called into action in the early stages to keep United in the game.
He made a flying save to turn away a diving header from Aguero and then kept out Riyad Mahrez’s shot with his outstretched leg.
City also had a shout for a penalty turned down a Sterling went down under a challenge from Harry Maguire, and all this within the opening nine minutes.
Aguero forced another big save from De Gea after he made a run from deep and played a return pass with Sterling.
City may have had the early chances but it was United who snatched a 36th minute lead through the sweetest of strikes from Matic with United’s first goal attempt on target.
Jesse Lingard was fouled, Fred swung in a free kick which Bernardo Silva failed to head clear.
The ball fell invitingly to Matic on the edge of the box and his volley flew low to the left of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for his first goal of the season.
City thought they had drawn level in the 42nd minute when Sterling converted De Bruyne’s cross from a couple of yards, but VAR ruled out the goal for offside.
United made a half-time change with Mason Greenwood replaced by Daniel James.
The Reds had a great chance to equalise soon after the restart when Maguire headed disappointingly over from six yards from Fred’s free kick.
Anthony Martial forced a diving save from Bravo as City became increasingly nervous and jittery.
Sterling had a great chance to put the tie to bed just short of the hour when he missed a sitter by his standards.
He was put through, rounded De Gea then blazed over from 10 yards, a woeful goal attempt.
Martial had another decent effort but fired over before Solskjaer made his second change mid-half when Lingard was replaced by Pereira.
City’s first change with 22 minutes left saw Mahrez replaced by David Silva.
Walker’s 30-yard piledriver was brilliantly kept out by De Gea, a rare moment when City threatened.
There was drama when Matic was sent off with 15 minutes left after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Gundogan.
Solskjaer’s last change was Juan Mata for Luke Shaw with 11 minutes left with Williams dropping to left back in a 4-4-1 formation.
City thought they had sealed their Wembley passage with six minutes left when Aguero slotted a Joao Cancelo through ball low past De Gea, but he had strayed offside as the tie remained finely poised.
United had one late chance to equalise after Nicolas Otamendi was booked for a foul on Maguire on the edge of the box.
It was a glorious opportunity for United to double their lead and force a penalty shootout, but Fred fired the free kick into the defensive wall.
City, looking to waste time in the four minutes of added time, brought on both John Stones and Jesus in place of De Bruyne and Aguero as they held on.