Manchester City have qualified for the eighth final of the EFL Cup. Were at home the Citizens 2-0 too strong for Chelsea, where Hakim Ziyech was in the starting lineup. The goals were scored by Riyad Mahrez and Julián Álvarez. Graham Potter’s team was the third party from London to be eliminated from the cup tournament on Wednesday, as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal did not survive the third round before.
Both managers sent a starting eleven into the field that was significantly changed in several places. Josep Guardiola only let four players start from the first whistle who also started the game against Fulham (2-1): Jack Grealish, Álvarez, Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri kept their places. The most notable starting spot on the Chelsea side was for Ziyech, who was allowed to start on August 30 for the first time since the lost Premier League game against Southampton (2-1).
????? To enjoy! With this wonderful move, Hakim Ziyech offered Lewis Hall a good chance for the connecting goal, but Ortega managed to prevent it. ?? https://t.co/2h8AF7aYl6#ViaplaySportNL #ViaplayFootball pic.twitter.com/8GV8W23FCN
— Viaplay Sport Netherlands (@viaplaysportnl) Nov 9, 2022
The first opportunity of the game was for Jack Grealish, who suddenly got the ball in front of his feet in the tenth minute of play but failed to score. On the other side, Christian Pulisic was dangerous; the attacker saw his effort parried by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Midway through the first act, Pulisic again came close to the opening goal, but again hit City’s closing post. On behalf of the home team, Grealish and Álvarez contributed in vain before the halftime signal.
The score was broken in the second act. Referee Simon Hooper penalized a foul by Trevoh Chalobah with a yellow card and gave City a free kick. Mahrez claimed the ball and curled into the bottom right corner: 1-0. Five minutes later, the score was doubled. Again there was an important role for Mahrez, who got goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into serious trouble after a nice assumption.
?? City ahead! Riyad Mahrez hits the mark from a free kick and gives the Manchester team the lead. Julian Alvarez has now doubled the score and signs for the 2-0. ?? https://t.co/2h8AF7aYl6#ViaplaySportNL #ViaplayFootball pic.twitter.com/l6Q4XbVfB7
— Viaplay Sport Netherlands (@viaplaysportnl) Nov 9, 2022
The closing post tapped the ball at the feet of Álvarez, who was able to walk in from close range: 2-0. Ziyech showed himself with a lovely passing movement on the back line, but then Lewis Hall failed to finish. In the final phase, Pulisic thought he could score the connection goal, but his goal was disallowed for offside.