MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Holders Manchester City can look forward to defending the League Cup in next month's final at Wembley as Gabriel Jesus struck four goals in a 9-0 thrashing of Burton Albion in their semi-final, first leg on Wednesday (Jan 9).
Kevin de Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez were also on target against Nigel Clough's League One side as City ensured their visit to the Pirelli Stadium on January 23 is a mere formality.
After also thrashing Rotherham 7-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday with a much-changed side, Pep Guardiola was able to again hand a rest to a number of his key players but named a strong side with De Bruyne continuing his comeback from injury.
And the Belgian set the tone for the evening by heading City into a fifth-minute lead as he timed his run into the box perfectly to head home David Silva's cross.
Clough admitted before the game it would take a "miracle" for Burton to blunt the Premier League champions' might over two legs.
So it proved, but the visitors missed a glorious chance to get straight back on level terms when Marcus Harness blasted over Lucas Akins's cross when completely unmarked inside the penalty box.
It took City until the half hour mark to double their advantage, but a glut of three goals in seven minutes followed to put the tie to bed before the break.
Jesus headed home his first from close range after Bradley Collins had denied Leroy Sane before the Brazilian slotted home Silva's cushioned pass via the inside of the post.
City didn't need any luck, but still got some when Zinchenko's intended cross then looped over Collins to make it 4-0.
Other sides may have slacked off in the second period, but with competitions for places so fierce among Guardiola's side, the hosts were ruthless to match the Catalan's biggest ever win as a coach.
Jesus powered home a header to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
De Bruyne was then replaced by home favourite Foden, who was surprisingly left out the stating XI, just before the hour mark.
It took just four minutes for the 18-year-old to score his third City goal as he profited from the rebound after Collins did well to parry Jesus's first effort.
Jesus did soon have his fourth with a delicate finish from Sane's cross and City's dominance was summed up when right-back Kyle Walker strode forward to fire home his side's eighth of the evening.
Mahrez made it nine seven minutes from time and those City fans still in the Etihad cried for a historic 10th.
But that was the only thing City fell short of on the night with a final meeting against Tottenham or Chelsea on February 24 guaranteed.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is set to serve a second term after world football's governing body - headquartered in Zürich - said on Wednesday February 5th he would be the only candidate for June's vote.
Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in June vote
It was a City siege in the second half, though, with the team's passing much crisper and penetrative. David Silva had a penalty shout turned down after Burnley striker Ashley Barnes appeared to handle the midfielder's shot. Burnley center backs Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, sitting very deep, kept getting in the way of passes, crosses and shots.
About two months ago, I dozed off on a bus ride to the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Read more at straitstimes.com. Spurs' new home to usher in a new era, Football News & Top Stories - The
Tottenham's new stadium proves to be well worth the wait as
Ten-man Real Madrid suffered their seventh La Liga defeat of the season as they fell 2-1 at home to Girona , with Sergio Ramos breaking the Spanish record for red cards with his late dismissal
La Liga: Atletico Madrid win again to keep pressure on
The Pakistan national under-17 football team is the under-17 football (soccer) team of Pakistan. The team has participated in the AFC U-16 Championship once in 2002 and has also participated in the SAFF U-16 Championship in 2011 and 2013, but withdrew in 2015 and did not enter in 2017. Pakistan national under-20 football team
History - db0nus869y26v.cloudfront.net
Manchester City could be handed a two-window transfer ban in the coming days. According to UK Sun report, world's football governing body, FIFA are ready to slam Man City with the same ban handed to Chelsea for flouting rules guiding the transfer of minors following series of investigations.
Man City set to be hit with transfer ban for two windows
Lacazette double helps Arsenal beat Valencia 3-1. Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores their third goal against Valencia at the Emirates Stadium, London, on May 2, 2019. (Reuters)
Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: Alexandre Lacazette double helps give
LONDON: Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who will join the club on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Higuain joins Chelsea after his year-long loan spell with AC Milan was cut to less than six months.
Gonzalo Higuain: Chelsea complete loan move for Juventus
Jurgen Klopp hailed Mohamed Salah after his Egyptian king ended his eight-game goal drought with a super solo strike that propelled Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League. Klopp described
Emery believes Klopp's continued progress at Anfield is an example for Arsenal to follow in the near-future. "This team three seasons ago, they were playing in the final of the Europa League," Emery said. "Their development was to last season play the final in the Champions League.
Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Europa League clash against
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga shines Description: Eden Hazard was the catalyst with an incisive run into the Fulham area, the Belgian laying the ball back to the Jorginho, who guided a superb strike into the top corner from 18 yards.
Premier League: Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa
Watford's Gray strikes late to spoil Rodgers' Leicester debut Watford's Andre Gray scored a stoppage-time winner as Leicester City began life under new boss Brendan Rodgers in
Leicester city News: Leicester city Latest News and Headlines
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter-final second leg later on Wednesday.
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League bid
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen