Aston Villa were the first side to progress to this year's Carabao Cup final after a 3-2 aggregate win against Leicester City and tonight they were joined by Manchester City, who over two legs beat rivals Manchester United. Read a brief summary of the semi finals below.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa
In a match that had been dubbed 'Jack Grealish vs James Maddison' in an England midfield dilemma, the Aston Villa man came out on top despite his side having one shot on target. Leicester had been struggling for a bit of form when Villa came to town but had numerous chances to win the game. Villa's only shot on target was a goal from Frederic Guilbert that came against the run of play. Ezri Konsa hit the bar with another Villa chance but Leicester had 21 shots on goal, with Orjan Nyland saving from Maddison and Jamie Vardy. Kelechi Iheanacho, as he has done many times this season, came off the bench and smashed in an equaliser as Nyland was finally beaten. Tyrone Mings was imperious at the back as Villa performed a classy away performance.
The second leg was a wonderful match of football. Leicester started the match brilliantly with Maddison having a big impact on the match and had two close efforts. This looked more like the Leicester we had seen throughout this season but again, Villa scored against the run of play as Grealish set up the overlapping Matt Targett to score. Nyland was magnificent in goal and pulled off some fantastic saves, the best being a shot from Maddison that the Norweigan somehow managed to tip onto the bar. Leicester were missing Vardy as he had not fully recovered from a hamstring injury so Iheanacho started and, just like last time, scored the equaliser. It seemed like the Foxes would then press on and push for a winner but a goal did not materialise. It did, though, for Aston Villa as in injury time Ahmed El Mohammady whipped in a beautiful cross to the unmarked Trezeguet at the back post to steal the game for Villa.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
This performance by Manchester United wasn't as bad as the Burnley one that would come later but it was very poor. Manchester City were at their destructive best and Pep Guardiola's decision to not name a regular striker seemed to stun the United defence. Kevin de Bruyne operated deeper and was magnificent alongside Bernardo Silva, whose stunning effort from 25 yards out put City ahead. City's fluid attack then cut apart the United defence again as Riyad Mahrez rounded David de Gea and shortly after, de Bruyne skinned Phil Jones hilariously and the attack ended with an own goal from Andreas Perreira. 3-0 at half time and it was another embarrassment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. City took their foot off the peddle in the second half and Marcus Rashford's goal was merely a consolation on the night.
Manchester City, were again, the dominant side but lacked a clinical edge that was apparent in the first leg. United, having offered very little before this, scored the only goal of the match as Nemanja Matic converted after Fred's free kick was not cleared. City regained their attacking edge as Raheem Sterling did get the ball into the net but he was offside. David de Gea was playing excellently having denied Sergio Aguero and Mahrez before that. Sterling missed another great chance when well placed and David Silva strangely decided to pass to Ilkay Gundogan when better placed to shoot. Matic was sent off with around 15 minutes to play and that essentially killed the tie as United didn't look like levelling the tie with 11 players let alone with City having a man advantage.
The holders will now play a side fighting relegation in the final. Villa defied the odds against a stronger Leicester side to reach Wembley but Manchester City seem like a bridge too far. But anything can happen in a cup final, and we'll see what does on March 1st.
Leicester City vs Aston Villa
In a match that had been dubbed 'Jack Grealish vs James Maddison' in an England midfield dilemma, the Aston Villa man came out on top despite his side having one shot on target. Leicester had been struggling for a bit of form when Villa came to town but had numerous chances to win the game. Villa's only shot on target was a goal from Frederic Guilbert that came against the run of play. Ezri Konsa hit the bar with another Villa chance but Leicester had 21 shots on goal, with Orjan Nyland saving from Maddison and Jamie Vardy. Kelechi Iheanacho, as he has done many times this season, came off the bench and smashed in an equaliser as Nyland was finally beaten. Tyrone Mings was imperious at the back as Villa performed a classy away performance.
The second leg was a wonderful match of football. Leicester started the match brilliantly with Maddison having a big impact on the match and had two close efforts. This looked more like the Leicester we had seen throughout this season but again, Villa scored against the run of play as Grealish set up the overlapping Matt Targett to score. Nyland was magnificent in goal and pulled off some fantastic saves, the best being a shot from Maddison that the Norweigan somehow managed to tip onto the bar. Leicester were missing Vardy as he had not fully recovered from a hamstring injury so Iheanacho started and, just like last time, scored the equaliser. It seemed like the Foxes would then press on and push for a winner but a goal did not materialise. It did, though, for Aston Villa as in injury time Ahmed El Mohammady whipped in a beautiful cross to the unmarked Trezeguet at the back post to steal the game for Villa.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
This performance by Manchester United wasn't as bad as the Burnley one that would come later but it was very poor. Manchester City were at their destructive best and Pep Guardiola's decision to not name a regular striker seemed to stun the United defence. Kevin de Bruyne operated deeper and was magnificent alongside Bernardo Silva, whose stunning effort from 25 yards out put City ahead. City's fluid attack then cut apart the United defence again as Riyad Mahrez rounded David de Gea and shortly after, de Bruyne skinned Phil Jones hilariously and the attack ended with an own goal from Andreas Perreira. 3-0 at half time and it was another embarrassment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. City took their foot off the peddle in the second half and Marcus Rashford's goal was merely a consolation on the night.
Manchester City, were again, the dominant side but lacked a clinical edge that was apparent in the first leg. United, having offered very little before this, scored the only goal of the match as Nemanja Matic converted after Fred's free kick was not cleared. City regained their attacking edge as Raheem Sterling did get the ball into the net but he was offside. David de Gea was playing excellently having denied Sergio Aguero and Mahrez before that. Sterling missed another great chance when well placed and David Silva strangely decided to pass to Ilkay Gundogan when better placed to shoot. Matic was sent off with around 15 minutes to play and that essentially killed the tie as United didn't look like levelling the tie with 11 players let alone with City having a man advantage.
The holders will now play a side fighting relegation in the final. Villa defied the odds against a stronger Leicester side to reach Wembley but Manchester City seem like a bridge too far. But anything can happen in a cup final, and we'll see what does on March 1st.
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