Manchester City booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals from Rayan Cherki and Savinho sealed a professional performance that underlined the team's growing control under Pep Guardiola.
Cherki's Curler Sets the Tone
The breakthrough came before half-time from the boot of French midfielder Rayan Cherki. After a period of sustained pressure, a corner from the right was only partially cleared. Cherki collected the ball on the edge of the area, deftly dummyed past Mikkel Damsgaard, and unleashed a sublime curled effort into the top-right corner, leaving goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson with no chance.
The goal was a just reward for City's dominance, with Guardiola's side largely camped in Brentford's half. The visitors, managed by Keith Andrews, offered little threat, with their best first-half opportunity coming from a Mathias Jensen free-kick that was well saved by James Trafford.
City's Control and a Debut to Remember
The second half continued in a similar vein, with City patiently probing and suffocating Brentford's attempts to build momentum. Phil Foden, who had come on early for the injured Oscar Bobb, went close with a snapshot that Valdimarsson did well to save.
Guardiola made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, but it was one of the remaining starters, Savinho, who put the result beyond doubt. The Brazilian winger was released down the left channel in the 67th minute, drove into the box, and saw his deflected finish loop over Valdimarsson to double City's lead.
The evening was also marked by a special moment for academy product Charlie Gray, who made his senior debut as an 82nd-minute substitute. The 19-year-old was given a celebratory bear hug by Guardiola before entering the fray, taking up an advanced midfield role and linking play comfortably in the closing stages.
Guardiola's Satisfaction and Looking Ahead
The victory represented a textbook performance from City, who managed the game expertly from start to finish. Guardiola had cited the need for his team to grow with each outing this season, and this display of composure and control will have pleased him immensely. He later apologised for previously stating that Saturday's Premier League match against West Ham was the priority, but his team's focus on the night was never in doubt.
With key senior figure Nathan Aké captaining the side and providing stability, City navigated the tie with minimal alarm. The win sweeps the former four-time consecutive winners into the last four, where they will be strong favourites to claim a place at Wembley as they continue their pursuit of multiple trophies this campaign.
