BRISTOL CITY 2, MANCHESTER CITY 3
(MAN CITY WIN 5-3 ON AGGREGATE TO GO TO THE FINAL OF THE CARABAO CUP)
There was a final flourish to this Carabao Cup semi final as Bristol City went into the final minute of injury time at the end of this contest still needing just one goal to force extra time before Kevin De Bruyne finally shut the door on the brave Robins who had played a full part in their two games against runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Goals by Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero had put Manchester City in full control before Marlon Pack and Aden Flint hauled Bristol City back to level terms on the night with just 90 seconds to go. They needed another goal to force extra time but Kevin De Bruyne scored in the final seconds as Pep Guardiola’s side showed their quality.
Guardiola was taking the tie completely seriously following Bristol City’s performance at the Etihad in the first leg and make just two changes from the side that beat Newcastle United at the weekend. Claudio Bravo and Bernardo Silva came into the side and displaced Ederson and Raheem Sterling who both lined up on a strong bench as Oleksandr Zinchenko continued at left back ahead of Danilo.
City were on top from the start and their hosts were cut to ribbons but somehow managed to prevent the Blues from finding a clear shot on goal.
Sergio Aguero’s cross came off the Bristol crossbar while John Stones’ misdirected header was the closest that City got to their hosts’ goal in the opening period.
David Silva tested Luke Steele in the Bristol goal with a shot that the ex-Manchester United man palmed away from Sergio Aguero who was just inches away from a possible tap-in while there were also chances for De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
The home side were struggling to string passes together – completing just 10 in the first half and outpassed by Bravo with 11 – and almost made it to half time before one error undid all their first half work.
Bristol were defending manfully against the City onslaught but the deadlock was finally broken a minute before half time when the home side lost possession through a mistake by Hordur Magnusson while trying to let the ball go out of play.
City broke quickly with Bernardo Silva playing the ball to Leroy Sane whose shot goal bound shot took a deflection off Aden Flint who couldn’t stop it from going past Steele for his 11th strike of the season.
Bristol City play full part in their second Carabao Cup game against Manchester City
Johnson switched to 4-4-2 after the break and made two changes – bringing on Nathan Baker and Famara Diedhiou for Liam Walsh and the deflated Magnusson as Bristol City sought to get a goal back.
This played into the hands of their visitors who could have scored within seconds of the kick off through Aguero but the ruthless Argentine was not going to get denied after another counter attack through De Bruyne who landed a pass in front of Aguero who, with Baker in his wake, didn’t need to break his stride to thrash the ball past Steele and into the top corner for his 23rd goal of the season from 18 yards out just 4 minutes into the second period.
The fire might have gone out of the game to some extent but the Robins at least tested Bravo with a shot by Diedhiou after Zinchenko had lost the ball after 58 minutes.
Marlon Pack gave the home side something to cheer about on 64 minutes when he met Bobby Reid’s looping cross with a firm header past Bravo to lift Ashton Gate for the first time in the second half with City having switched off as Stones dawdled.
Steele had to be on his toes to save from Flint’s sliced attempt to clear Kyle Walker’s cross as City pressed the Robins once again.
Ryan Kent, a youngster on loan from Liverpool, made his debut for the Robins with Jamie Paterson making way – almost a recognition that the game was up from the home side.
Walker was hit in the face after a coming-together with Diedhiou’s arm as they both went up for a header – but by that time Pep Guardiola had decided to start resting players – Aguero was replaced by Gundogan and Walker by Danilo as City wound down the clock.
Danilo hit a City effort wide after a fast counter attack involving five players at the end of the game, and Gundogan’s effort was deflected wide soon afterwards.
There were just 90 seconds of added time left as the dying embers of the game were fanned when Pack sent a hopeful ball into the area and Flint’s tap-in from Bobby Reid’s flick on brought a belated cheer from the home fans amongst the 26,003 attendance at Ashton Gate.
The goal made Bristol City only the sixth team to put two goals past Manchester City in a game this season but that couldn’t stop City from marching on to a Wembley final – their first under Guardiola.
Josh Brownhill had the chance extend the game but his final cross into box was wasted and City ran up the other end and denied Lee Johnson’s side a draw on the night as Sane laid the ball on for De Bruyne to fire in City’s final word on the matter – and his ninth goal of the season – six minutes into injury time.