The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Manchester City youngster Brahim Diaz, left, celebrates with Fabian Delph after scoring his second goal in last night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth round victory over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.
Teenagers to fore as holders march into quarter-finals
City’s teenagers shone as they eased into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Fulham.
All eyes were on 18-year-old Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz, 19, as they were handed rare starts at the Etihad Stadium, and neither disappointed.
Diaz’s first senior goals settled the tie and gave a hint of why Real Madrid have been linked with the Spaniard, while Foden, who has also seen his name in the transfer gossip columns this week, went close twice and was full of running and intelligent passing in City’s engine room.
The only sour note for the holders came late on when Kevin De Bruyne, still working his way back to full fitness, went down in pain and was immediately replaced.
City manager Pep Guardiola was unable to shed any light on the nature of De Bruyne’s injury but was satisfied with the result which ensured a place in the last eight of the competition, where they will face either Leicester City or Southampton.
“Excellent, it was a good performance. We played with a lot of discipline, we were clever with the ball. I would have liked to score more goals but that’s OK.”
Guardiola had made 10 changes from Monday night’s win at Tottenham, with John Stones the sole survivor from the side that started at Wembley.
While Guardiola made sweeping changes, Slavisa Jokanovic fielded a strong side with only three new faces from the weekend, hoping for a victory that would end a run of four straight defeats.
City quickly set up camp in the Fulham half and would rarely leave, with De Bruyne going close twice in the first five minutes.
Foden then hit a powerful shot which stung the palms of Sergio Rico before Diaz broke the deadlock five minutes later with his first City goal.
Vincent Kompany headed down a cross from Fabian Delph and Diaz ran on to hit a powerful shot which deflected off Aleksandar Mitrovic to beat Rico.
City pushed for more but Fulham held out until the break, though the second half started in the same vein.
Gabriel Jesus headed wide, De Bruyne bent a shot narrowly wide but just as it looked as though the visitors were gaining a foothold, the hosts doubled their lead in the 65th minute.
Foden was involved again, recovering possession and slipping it to Sane.
He played in Jesus but when the Brazilian’s shot across goal was touched on to a post by Rico, the ball fell for Diaz and the Spaniard took a touch before rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
With five minutes left De Bruyne limped off to be replaced by 18-year-old midfielder Claudio Gomes.