RAHEEM GIVES OXFORD BLUES Amazing cup run shows no signs of stopping as ace Sterling strikes again

MANCHESTER CITY’S winning run in the EFL Cup goes on and on and Raheem Sterling keeps on scoring.

The double defending champions reached their third consecutive semifinal last night despite a defiant display from League One Oxford to set up a semi-final against Manchester United.

Joao Cancelo scored his first City goal since his £60million summer transfer from Juventus to give them a first-half lead.

And although Matty Taylor scored a neat equaliser straight after the break, captain Sterling netted twice for the Premier League holders to show that, on the pitch at least, there is business as usual for Guardiola’s side in this competition.

There was a pre-match applause for Jim Smith as the home side gave him the on-field tribute boss Karl Robinson (below) had demanded for their former manager who died last week.

There are 49 league places – and millions of pounds – separating these sides but the U’s were still in this entertaining quarter-final until Sterling grabbed City’s third goal in the 70th minute.

There was certainly no repeat of the last time City played a League One side in this competition when the Premier League side beat Burton Albion 10-0, including a 9-0 first leg win, on aggregate in last season’s semi-final.

After weathering early City storm on a horrible wet net, Oxford had just started to enjoy some possession in City’s half when they were undone by a clinical counter-attack following their own corner after 22 minutes.

City’s slick passing saw Riyad Mahrez drop deep and draw leftback Josh Ruffels out of position.

And Phil Foden, making his third consecutive start, released Cancelo into acres of space and his shot was deflected home off defender Elliott Moore.

But Oxford were level within 22 seconds of Robinson’s half-time team talk. Shandon Baptiste took a quick free-kick with the ball still moving but ref Andrew Madley allowed play to go on. And Taylor, who is on loan from Bristol City, turned 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-bellis before slotting home his ninth goal in his last 14 games. Equality lasted five minutes.

Oxford keeper Jordan Archer first flapped at a Mahrez cross from the left.

And from the same side, Angelino sent in a low delivery which was steered into the bottom corner by Sterling for his 21st goal of the season.

Oxford came again with Claudio Bravo, who at 36 was older than the combined age of the teenage Blues centre-backs Eric Garcia and Harwoodbellis, tipping a shot from Tarique Fosu onto the roof of the net. But Sterling settled the tie when Bernardo Silva released sub Gabriel Jesus down the left and his low cross found the unmarked England star at the far post.

The busy Cancelo hit the post – and then got involved in a spat with sub Jamie Mackie after trying to trip the former QPR forward.

Rob Dickie, Mackie and Mark Sykes – whose volley was saved by Bravo – all failed to take late chances.

City players mob Sterling after his second goal sealed a titanic semi-final with big rivals United