Man United suffer late shock defeat
Manchester United’s League Cup defence was ended by second-tier side Bristol City yesterday when the holders conceded in the third minute of stoppage time to go out in the quarterfinals.
The game was heading to extra time until Korey Smith stunned Jose Mourinho’s side to grab a 2-1 win. His dramatic goal over the footballing giants sent the crowd into a frenzy, with many invading the pitch to take selfies with their heroes, waving Bristol City flags.
United had earlier fought back when Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out Joe Bryan’s opener for City, who are third in the championship.
But Smith’s winner for the Robins, who have never won a major trophy in their history, sparked jubilant and wild scenes at a sold-out Ashton Gate as Mourinho suffered just his second defeat to lower-league opposition since first managing in England in 2003.
League One (third-tier) side Bradford City beat Mourinho’s Chelsea 4-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2015 and the Portuguese manager said Bristol
City were lucky to reach the last four of this season’s League Cup.
‘‘A team from the lower division won. A big day for them,’’ he told the UK’s Sky Sports.
‘‘They were a bit lucky but they fought a lot to be lucky. Everyone was waiting for our goal so they were lucky. We hit the post twice.
‘‘But they played brilliantly, they fought like it was the game of their lives which probably it was. A beautiful day for football.’’
There was also a goal in stoppage time and another 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge as Alvaro Morata struck for Chelsea to eliminate Bournemouth.
Willian tapped in the opener in the 13th minute and extra time was looming after Dan Gosling curled in a 90th-minute equaliser.
But Eden Hazard’s backheel set up Morata for the winner. The Spanish striker was booked for celebrating excessively.