City cruise into Carabao Cup last eight

Aguero

Aguero marks 350th appearance with 2 goals.

Aguero marks 350th appearance with 2 goals.

City cruised into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Etihad.

First-half goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero underlined the Blues dominance, and skipper Aguero added a third after the break.

The Saints pulled a late consolation back, but the holders’ passage to the last eight was never in any real doubt.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Carabao Cup holders started in determined fashion against a wounded Southampton side, still reeling from last Friday’s 9-0 home loss to Leicester City.

Fielding teenagers Tommy Doyle, Eric Garcia and Phil Foden, Pep Guardiola selected a side full of youth and experience, with Bernardo Silva as creator-in-chief in central midfield and Gabriel Jesus on the left flank

Claudio Bravo had barely had a touch by the time the Blues took the lead as Otamendi headed home Bernardo’s cross from the left on 20 minutes.

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Saints offered little in the way of response, perhaps looking to avoid another pummelling as much as anything else, so when City doubled the lead just before the break, it was no real surprise.

A sweeping move that began in defence, ended with Riyad Mahrez feeding the overlapping Kyle Walker and his low cross was volleyed home by Aguero on his 350th appearance for the Club.

And it was Aguero who put the game to bed on 57 minutes with his second of the night and his twelfth of the campaign.

Bernardo cut in from the right before find Mahrez who shot a deflected cross towards goal and Aguero expertly guided the ball past Alex McCarthy to make it 3-0.

It wasn’t until the 65th minute that Bravo was called into action, but the inactivity hadn’t dulled his reflexes as he made a fine fingertip save from Boufal.

Jack Stephens headed a consolation goal for the Saints on 76 minutes, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

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