City makes itself at home at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND— Manchester City humiliated Manchester United in its fierce rival’s own stadium Tuesday, easing to a 3-1 victory in the first leg of their English League Cup semifinal to stay on course to win the competition for a third straight year.
All of City’s goals at Old Trafford came in a one-sided first half that highlighted the gulf which has opened up between the crosstown neighbours over recent years.
When the visitors went 3-0 up courtesy of an own-goal by Andreas Pereira in the 39th minute, memories were revived of the 6-1 win served up on this ground by Roberto Mancini’s City in 2011 that was one signal of the shifting of the balance of soccer power in Manchester.
However, United managed to avoid conceding any more goals and a 70th-minute strike by Marcus Rashford gave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg at City’s Etihad Stadium on Jan. 29.
“Of course, Manchester United can come back,” City manager Pep Guardiola said, making reference to United advancing from the Champions League round of 16 last season after losing 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg. “Last year here they lost to PSG and they qualify. They have the shirt which means history and pride.”
City is now unbeaten in 16 straight League Cup matches.
Aston Villa takes on Leicester in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Mindful of how United tore apart his City team on the counterattack in a Premier League game won by Solskjaer’s side at the Etihad last month, Guardiola chose not to play a recognized striker and flooded his midfield to outnumber the hosts in that department.
City’s midfielders picked their moments to charge forward, and did so devastatingly.
Bernardo Silva advanced toward the edge of United’s penalty area and drove a curling shot into the top corner in the 17th minute, with goalkeeper David De Gea barely moving.
The Portugal playmaker then wriggled into space in the centre of the field and threaded a pass to Riyad Mahrez, who rounded De Gea and slotted the ball into an empty net in the 33rd.