League Cup: Southampton stun ManCity to reach semifinals
Southampton stunned eight-time winners Manchester City as they reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup thanks to a 2-0 win whiles Nottingham Forest beat Wolves on penalties to join last four
The Saints scored twice before half-time to keep their dream of a first title alive, putting an unusually toothless opposition to bed in the process.
The Saints made a bright start, as Duje Caleta-Car saw an excellent half-volley tipped around the post by Stefan Ortega. The goalkeeper was powerless to stop the next effort on target though, as Sekou Mara was perfectly picked out by Lycano’s right-wing cross, and delivered a crisp first-time finish into the bottom corner.
They were 2-0 up before the half hour mark, doubling the lead in style as Moussa Djenepo drove forward from midfield before spotting Ortega off his line and superbly curling over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net from 30-yards.
That was how it stayed until the break, with City failing to even register a shot on target in the first half. Pep Guardiola made three changes at the break though as he looked to turn things around, and one of them, Kevin De Bruyne, had an immediate impact with a defence splitting pass for Julian Alvarez, who fired wide of the far post.
Even the introduction of Erling Haaland had little impact though, with the striker’s best sight of goal coming when hooking an awkward Phil Foden cross over the bar. Gavin Bazunu finally had a save to make with ten minutes left when he denied Alvarez, as Southampton inflicted the 100th defeat of Guardiola’s managerial career.
Nottingham Forest made it into the EFL Cup semi-finals after beating Wolves 4-3 on penalties after a fiery contest at The City Ground.
A Willy Boly header against his former club in the first-half put the hosts ahead, but it was cancelled out by Raul Jimenez’s tap-in in the 64th minute to send the game to a shoot-out.
Forest went in front in the 18th minute through a slice of luck. From a corner, a near post flick-on from Serge Aurier came off the bar and Jonny Otto before falling into the path of Boly to tap in from point-blank range.
Wolves responded positively and they would have got an equaliser in the first-half if not for two brilliant saves from Dean Henderson.
The Manchester United loanee denied Raul Jimenez in a one-on-one situation with a smart reflex save before batting away Hwang Hee-Chan’s side-footed volley in the 40th minute.
Jose Sa was forced into making a fine save five minutes into the second half when a poor header from substitute Ruben Neves fell into the path of Brennan Johnson, whose low strike was parried away by the Portugal international.
Against the run of play Wolves got an equaliser. Moments after Matheus Cunha came off the bench, the Atletico Madrid loanee provided a fine driven cross for Jimenez to tap in at the far post.
The game got increasingly scrappy with a place in the semi-final draw in their sights. Forest almost scored in fortunate circumstances when a one-two involving substitutes Emmanuel Dennis and Jack Colback deflected off Nelson Semedo’s knee and off the inside of the post.
Neither side could be separated and a shoot-out ensued. Sam Surridge and Neves missed the opening penalties for the respective sides, but it was Joe Hodge who missed Wolves’ all-important fifth one.
His effort was well saved by Henderson which sparked the Forest supporters into raptures – and the club into the last four.
The draw for the EFL Cup semi-finals will see Nottingham Forest play Manchester United, while Southampton will take on Newcastle in a two legged tie scheduled for January 24 and 25 and January 31 and February 1 respectively.
