MAN CITY 0, WOLVES 0
(City won 4-1 on penalties)
Claudio Bravo went from zero to hero as Manchester City defeated Championship leaders Wolves to scrape through to the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup.
The Chilean keeper, whose displays in his first season at the club were criticised and ridiculed, stepped off the bench to almost single handedly keep City in the cup.
Four times in regulation time, Bravo saved City as Wolves’ Helder Costa and Bright Enobakhare three times found themselves clean through on goal.
Then in the penalty shootout, the first one ever held in the club’s 15 years at the Etihad Stadium, Bravo saved spot kicks from Alfred N’Diaye and Conor Coady to break the brave hearts of the visitors. City scored all four of their kicks.
It was cruel on Wolves who became the first club this season to stop City scoring, something Liverpool, Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli had failed to do.
And though both teams made nine changes from weekend, Wolves more than matched City and, without Bravo’s heroics, they would have been victims of a giantkilling act.
City manager Pep Guardiola praised Bravo saying: “He deserved that performance and without him we would not be in the next round.
“Claudio gave us the chance to go through. I am so happy for him, for the way he trains and the way her performed.”
Guardiola added the game proved just how difficult it will be for City to win every competition.
City’s manager was critical of the “light” football used in the competition saying all his players were critical of it.
He explained: “It is unacceptable ball for a high level competition, and I can say that because we won.
“It is not a serious ball to play with. Whether it is for marketing or money, sorry Carabao.”
Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva were the only two survivors from the City side that started against Burnley on Saturday.
City handed a debut to Ukrainian summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko while there were first starts of the season for Eliaquim Mangala and Tosin Adarabioyo.
But the side was still packed with international players, 10 alone in the side that kicked off and a further six on the bench.
It was also clear where the priorities lie for Championship leaders as they also made nine changes to their starting line up.
Aguero had three chances to break the club’s scoring record in the first 12 minutes, but his first effort was saved with the other two off target.
Raheem Sterling poked a shot narrowly wide, but City were lacking the cohesiveness they have in recent matches, no surprise in view of their new-look side.
Wolves had their first clear-cut chance in the 33rd minute, a header by Ryan Bennett from a free kick that forced City keeper Claudio Bravo into an athletic save.
And still the wait went on for Aguero as another rasping shot was fisted to safety by keeper Will Norris and another Aguero effort flew wide.
Wolves almost snatched the lead shortly before the break when a mistake by Mangala saw Bright Enobakhare burst clean through only for Bravo to save the day with a brilliant block.
Aguero was enduring a rare off night as a further chance flew wide.
Midway through the second period, Wolves had another great chance to snatch the lead when City’s defence was carved open and Helder Costa found himself clean through but Bravo saved the day once again.
Keeper Norris almost handed Aguero his elusive record-breaking 178th goal with a wayward kick straight to the Argentine ace. Norris redeemed himself, though, with a magnificent save at his feet.
Bernardo Silva then had a shot beaten away by Norris as City struggled to break down a resolute Wolves’ defence.
Wolves had another great chance to take the lead with eight minutes left when Enobakhare shrugged Mangala off the ball and was clean through only to fail miserably in his attempt to score.
It was time for Guardiola to summon one of his big guns as Kevin De Bruyne replaced Gabriel Jesus.
Sterling wasted a great chance to score with three minutes left shooting wide after Norris palmed a De Bruyn cross into his path.
Wolves should have won the gane in stoppage time when Enobakhare broke from his own half and with only Bravo to beat struck the legs of the keeper.
John Stones replaced Adarabioyo at the start of extra time and Leroy Sane soon also made an appearance, taking over from Bernardo Silva.
Sterling had two chances to win it for Wolves in quick succession, the first effort superbly saved by Norris and the second was blocked.
De Bruyn then saw a goalbound shot deflected as the ball looped just over the bar.
City made their fourth change – which is now permitted in extra time – when Danilo made way for Kyle Walker.
The start to the second period of extra time saw City pepper the Wolves goal as Sterling shot wide, Toure forced a fine save from Norris and Sane’s effort was deflected over for a corner.
City had one last chance to win the game before a penalty shootout when Aguero broke down the left, cut inside but shot straight at Norris.
The game swung City’s way in the shootout when Bravo saved spot kicks from N’Diaye and Coady while City converted all four of their kicks, the winner by Aguero.
But at the end it was Bravo who was mobbed by his team mates and given a standing ovation as he left the field.