City stretch winning run to reach final No. 4
Manchester Utd 0 Manchester City 2
EFL CUP SEMI- FINAL
UNLIKELY goalscorers John Stones and Fernandinho secured Manchester City’s shot at a fourth successive Carabao Cup crown as Manchester United lost their fourth consecutive semi- final.
Pep Guardiola’s men have not tasted defeat in this competition since 2016 and will face Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in the final on April 25 after edging past their neighbours at an empty Old Trafford.
The visitors emerged onto the pitch wearing retro number eight shirts in tribute to the ex- England international, with former team- mate Mike Summerbee understandably emotional during the minute’s silence.
United held firm until the 50th minute, when Stones ghosted in and capitalised on some questionable defending to turn home a Foden free- kick.
The semi- final started at an electrifying pace, with each side seeing a goal ruled out inside the opening five minutes.
Stones was relieved after
Marcus Rashford was ruled offside in the build- up to him turning into his own net, before Ilkay Gundogan strayed beyond the hosts’ backline when meeting a Foden cross.
Foden became the third player to see a first- half opener ruled out for offside, with the flag raised after bursting through and beating Henderson in the 24th minute.
Solskjaer’s side had stood up well but were undone by a freekick in the 50th minute. Foden swung in the ball from the left and Stones got between Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to direct past Henderson, with the video assistant referee giving it the green light.
And Fernandinho ended United’s hopes of reaching the final in the 83rd minute when his excellent low strike from outside the box beat stand- in goalkeeper Dean Henderson.