Southampton 2-0 Manchester City: Saints stun Pep Guardiola’s side to reach semis of League Cup

Southampton stunned eight-time winners Manchester City as they waltzed into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup thanks to a 2-0 win. The Saints scored twice before half-time to keep their dream of a first title alive, putting an unusually toothless opposition to bed in the process.

The Saints made a bright start, as Duje Caleta-Car saw an excellent half-volley tipped around the post by Stefan Ortega. The goalkeeper was powerless to stop the next effort on target though, as Sekou Mara was perfectly picked out by Lycano’s right-wing cross, and delivered a crisp first-time finish into the bottom corner.

They were 2-0 up before the half hour mark, doubling the lead in style as Moussa Djenepo drove forward from midfield before spotting Ortega off his line and superbly curling over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net from 30-yards.

That was how it stayed until the break, with City failing to even register a shot on target in the first half. Pep Guardiola made three changes at the break though as he looked to turn things around, and one of them, Kevin De Bruyne, had an immediate impact with a defence splitting pass for Julian Alvarez, who fired wide of the far post.

Even the introduction of Erling Haaland had little impact though, with the striker’s best sight of goal coming when hooking an awkward Phil Foden cross over the bar. Gavin Bazunu finally had a save to make with ten minutes left when he denied Alvarez, as Southampton inflicted the 100th defeat of Guardiola’s managerial career.

TALKING POINT – Jones finally having an impact?

It’s not been an easy start to life as Southampton boss for Nathan Jones, who has lost all four of his Premier League games in charge, including a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest which saw them booed off.

However, the former Luton boss may feel like he’s really having an impact now after a stunning victory in which his side looked dangerous on the front foot, while also proving comfortable against a whole host of attacking City stars.

What was most striking was the impact of the wing-backs, Walker-Peters and Djenepo, and if the Saints can carry this form into the Premier League, they’ve got a chance of staying up.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton). There were several contenders for this award, especially given just how quiet Southampton managed to keep a glittering Manchester City attack.

Walker-Peters takes it by a nose though after a superb display at both ends of the field, getting forward quickly and superbly on the counter, while also ensuring the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish barely got a touch.

The former Spurs defender, now in his fourth season at St Mary’s, is quietly becoming one of the most effective right-backs in the top flight, with this another near faultless performance.

SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 7, Walker-Peters 8, Lycano 8, Caleta-Car 7, Salisu 7, Djenepo 7; Diallo 7, Lavia 6, Ward-Prowse 7; Mara 7, Adam Armstrong 7. Subs: Perraud 6, Adams 6, Elyounoussi 6, Orsic n/a

Subs: Caballero, Finnigan, Edozie, Aribo, Orsic, Morgan

MANCHESTER CITY: Ortega 5; Cancelo 6, Walker 5, Laporte 6, Gomez 6; Foden 6, Gundogan 6, Phillips 5; Grealish 5, Alvarez 5, Palmer 5. Subs: Ake 6, De Bruyne 6, Akanji 6, Haaland 5, Rodri 6

Subs: Ederson, Bernardo, Mahrez, Lewis

KEY MOMENTS

8’ CALETA-CAR SHOT SAVED. The ball falls kindly to Duje Caleta-Car on the edge of the box, and his half volley is heading into the bottom corner, only for Stefan Ortega to superbly tip wide, down lown to his right

23’ GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (Mara). What a brilliant bit of football! Lycano nips in to rob the ball on the right wing, before charging forward and delivering a delightful cross to Sekou Mara, who converts with a superb first time finish into the bottom corner

29’ GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2-0 MANCHESTER CITY (Djenepo). OH MY DAYS! THAT IS INCREDIBLE! Djenepo picks the ball up in midfield and drives forward. He spots Ortega off his line and stunning curls over him from 30-yards. Wow.

77’ ADAMS GOAL RULED OUT. Che Adams has the ball in the back of the net after Ward-Prowse’s shot deflects his way, but the strike is chalked off for being offside

KEY STATS

• This is only the third time in their last 22 meetings that Southampton have beaten Manchester City
• This is the first time Pep Guardiola has lost a domestic quarter-final, having won each of his previous 15