Cup holders City take one step towards final

Carabao Cup semi-final: Manchester United 1-3 Manchester City

Carabao Cup holders Manchester City took a massive step towards reaching the final after beating rivals Manchester United 3-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford.

In a game dominated by Pep Guardiola’s side, City took the lead in the 17th minute through a Bernardo Silva wonder strike from outside the box. 

The visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute after Riyad Mahrez capitalised on Silva’s pass and rounded David De Gea before slotting into an empty net.

It could - and probably should - have been 3-0 shortly after, but Raheem Sterling miscued an effort from close range when the goal was at his mercy.

However, City did add a third in the 38th minute when Kevin De Bruyne forced a decent save from De Gea, only for the ball to cannon off Andreas Pereira and into his own net.

The home side were greeted with boos at the half-time whistle from disgruntled supporters, and they must have feared what was about to come when Jesse Lingard was replaced by Nemnja Matic in a defensive switch by Ole Gunner Solksjaer.

However, having dominated posession in the first 45 minutes, City appeared to take their foot off the gas during large periods of the second-half and allowed United a route back into the tie.

A defence splitting pass from  Mason Greenwood found Rashford, who composed himself and fired into the bottom corner in the 70th minute to reduce the defecit.

City rarely threatened to add to their tally but neither did United, and the game ended 3-1 to the visitors who now have a two-goal advantage ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 29th January.

Both sides return to Premier League action at the weekend. United host Norwich on Saturday, whilst City travel to Aston Villa on Sunday (16.30).