Manchester City came from behind to beat Everton 4-3 on aggregate in the League Cup semi-final, to book their place in the Wembley final. Kevin De Bruyne starred from the bench as he scored and assisted before he was worryingly stretchered off in added time after landing awkwardly.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men will face off with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for the trophy, after the Reds beat Stoke on penalties on Tuesday.
The pressure will increase on Roberto Martinez as they let another lead slip, with his defence conceding three more goals on the night.
The visitors took a 3-1 aggregate lead after 18 minutes when Ross Barkley was given the freedom of the edge of the 18-yard box, which allowed him to shoot into the bottom corner unchallenged.
A fortunate deflection took Fernandinho’s shot past Everton’s goalkeeper Joel Robles to put the home side one goal behind on aggregate.
With 20 minutes remaining, City stepped it up a level when they took the tie by the scruff of the neck, scoring first through a controversial goal finished off by super sub De Bruyne before the Belgian set up Sergio Aguero to book their place in February’s final.
The home side looked vulnerable when defending a counter and the Toffees nearly scored as Barkley and Lukaku led a pacy charge forward. Barkley opened the scoring inside 20 minutes when he shrugged off pressure from Nicolas Otamendi, strode past Fabian Delph and struck a low 20-yard shot past Willie Caballero.
That strike gave Martinez’s men the lead but that was soon slashed as City responded well within six minutes. Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho shot from the edge of the box and his effort fortuitously looped past Joel Robles in the Everton goal.
The 2014 winners nearly added another when Sergio Aguero took the ball from David Silva, gliding towards the centre of the field.
The Argentinian sent a 22-yard missile across goal and he struck the woodwork. Silva followed that effort up but his compatriot in between the sticks reacted well to make the save.
The next goal would be vital as it could ease the pressure on Everton or get the home side back into the contest. Both sides had good opportunities too early in the second half. Another speedy break from the visitors saw Gerard Deulofeu set through on goal on the left-hand side of the box.
The ex-Barca forward opened up his body and tried to shoot across goal but former La Liga goalkeeper Caballero saved comfortably and vitally. David Silva nearly put City ahead in the game as he won a rare header at the front post, the ball flashing across goal and against the post, rolling across the goal line.
The hosts took a 2-1 lead on the night when De Bruyne, minutes after replacing Yaya Toure, coolly finished Sterling’s cross.
There was controversy as the ball appeared to go out of play before the English forward crossed low across the box at the byline.
Pellegrini’s men soon went 4-3 ahead on aggregate, scoring their second goal in the space of six minutes. De Bruyne crossed from deep and Aguero brilliantly headed the ball powerfully from the penalty spot and past goalkeeper Robles. The League Cup final takes place on February 28 at Wembley Stadium.
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Source: Talksport