Manchester City reach Carabao Cup semi-finals after defeating Brentford
Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brentford, marking their first appearance in the last four of the tournament in four years, reports BritPanorama.
Rayan Cherki opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark with a stunning shot from the edge of the area that sailed into the top corner. Savinho sealed the win in the 67th minute, as his shot took a deflection that left goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson stranded.
This triumph is significant, as it represents City’s first semi-final berth since they secured their fourth consecutive League Cup title in 2021. The match did not come without its controversies, however; Brentford players were irate when midfielder Abdukodir Khusanov received only a yellow card after a foul on Kevin Schade near the penalty area.
The Bees contended that Schade had a clear path to goal and deserved a harsher punishment. Lacking VAR at this stage of the tournament, referee Sam Barrott’s decision stood, frustrating both players and manager Keith Andrews, who expressed his displeasure to the fourth official.
After the free-kick taken by Mathias Jensen was comfortably saved by City’s goalkeeper James Trafford, Brentford’s challenges continued without reward. Despite creating chances, including a powerful drive from Kristoffer Ajer that was brilliantly denied by Trafford, Brentford struggled to convert these into goals.
City, meanwhile, are increasingly robust, having won six consecutive matches across all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s side is dealing with several injuries, including notable absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Oscar Bobb limped off during the match, adding to their woes.
With their perfect December continuing amidst challenging weather conditions, City are poised for a promising semi-final draw. For Brentford, it marks yet another quarter-final exit, having succumbed at this stage for the second successive season after also losing to Newcastle last year. The Bees now look to regroup in the league as they navigate through this testing period.
As Manchester City celebrate their continued progress, Brentford must reflect on yet another near miss, a poignant reminder of their ongoing struggle to eclipse the giants in English football.
