Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2 – Player Ratings
Phil Foden scored one and set up Savinho as Manchester City qualified for the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with a dominant 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
City fielded a much changed side – only Phil Foden and John Stones remained from the side that drew at Arsenal.
And Foden was by far and away the best player on the pitch and scored a deserved opener when the England midfielder exchanged passes with Divine Mukasa before placing a low drive inside the back post beyond Lee Nicholls in the Huddersfield Town goal
City proceeded to wear down the deep lying Town resistance with some traditional Pep domination of the ball until the 75th minute when Foden saw a gap and laid the ball off to unmarked Savinho who rifled the ball in of the crossbar to double the City lead.
City boss Pep Guardiola gave both Jaiden and Reigan Heskey their debuts as City saw out the game despite Cameron Ashia hitting the post for the hosts late in the game as City took their foot off the gas.
PLAYER RATINGS – Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2
James Trafford: 6. Wobbly moments dealing with early back pass but nothing to save later. Beaten by Cameron Ashia shot that hit the post.
Matheus Nunes: 6. Unorthodox third centre back in the build up. Had to contend with Zepiqueno Redmond who was a handful on Town’s left flank. Had the odd misplaced pass but stood off Cameron Ashia and allowed him to shoot – fortunately for him he hit the post.
John Stones: 6. Allowed to spray the ball around from defence.
Nathan Ake: 6. Assured return at centre back.
Nico O’Reilly: 6. Good ball into the box was begging for a close range finish but Lee Nicholls jumped onto it. Attempt to chip Nicholls was saved.
Nico Gonzalez: 7. Good attacking output, released Nico O’Reilly for a presentable second half chance. Was given intensive on pitch coaching after the game by Pep Guardiola.
Rico Lewis: 6. Asked questions of the Huddersfield Town defence.
Oscar Bobb: 7. Some eye-catching moments on the ball as he showed off good close control from the right flank. Cross for Divine Mukasa deserved a better finish. Double teamed later in the game so became less effective.
Phil Foden: 9. A class above on this pitch. Afforded plenty of space to put City into the lead from 20 yards out.
Savinho: 7. Quiet game on the left flank. Some good tricks but anonymous until he was gifted a golden chance to open his City account for the season with a close range finish.
Divine Mukasa: 7. Put himself about in attacking role. Header saved before he executed a 1-2 with Phil Foden to allow him to open the scoring. Had a second half shot saved by Lee Nicholls after meeting a cross from Oscar Bobb.
Jaiden Heskey (on for Nico O’Reilly, 76): No time to mark.
Tijjani Reijnders (on for Phil Foden, 76): No time to mark
Kalvin Phillips (on for Nico Gonzalez, 83): No time to mark
Reigan Heskey (on for Savinho, 83): No time to mark
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2
Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 1: 19. Phil Foden was unmarked after exchanging passes with Divine Mukasa and placed a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. Town guilty of not getting close to the visitors and City fans sing “We want 10!”
Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2: 74. A simple layoff from Phil Foden saw Savinho rifle the ball in past Lee Nichols and off the crossbar from 6 yards out unmarked at the back post.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2
Man City: Trafford, Nunes, Stones (C), Ake, O’Reilly (J Heskey 76), Gonzalez (Phillips 83), Lewis, Bobb, Foden (Reijnders 76), Savinho (R Heskey 83), Mukasa
Man City Subs not used: Donnarumma, Dias, Silva, Braithwaite, Mfuni
Goals: Foden 19; Savinho 74
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Sorensen (Sway 77), Feeney, Wallace, Roughan, Wiles (C), Kasumu (May 83), Harness (Castledine 62), Redmond (Ashia 62), Vost, Charles (Radulovic 77)
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Goodman, Ledson, Low, Taylor
Referee: Michael Salisbury