Manchester City down Everton to book League Cup final date

Alam Khan - Reporter 17:35 28/01/2016
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  • Through in style: Man City.

    Kevin De Bruyne continued his love affair with the League Cup as he stepped off the bench to send Manchester City into the final.

    With his side desperately needing inspiration to deny Everton a dream meeting with Merseyside rivals Liverpool, the brilliant Belgian turned the semi-final around with his fifth goal in the competition and an assist for Sergio Aguero’s header that sealed a 4-3 aggregate win.

    De Bruyne’s night was soured, though, when he was stretchered off in injury time and City will now sweat on the extent of his knee injury. Having won the first leg 2-1, Ross Barkley extended Everton’s advantage with an 18th-minute opener which was everything that makes him such a special talent.

    As Aguero appealed in vain for a free kick at one end, Everton broke quickly and the England man had the confidence, conviction and composure to power his way through a meek City backline that went missing, and drive a low finish past Willy Caballero.

    Manuel Pellegrini’s men, though, levelled within six minutes. When Aguero had an effort charged down, it broke invitingly for Fernandinho who scored with the help of a big deflection.

    With six goals in as many games, Aguero is City’s main man and he justified top billing when he surged forward in the 36th minute and sent a stunning effort past Joel Robles, but against the inside the post.

    With a goalless Premier League draw sandwiched between the cup clashes, this was the third meeting between the two sides in a month and there was little to choose between them. Pellegrini brought Jesus Navas into the fray, at the expense of Fabian Delph, to try and add more energy to his side’s attack. City were almost caught out in the 48th minute when Barkley again sparked a counter attack and Deulofeu scampered clear of Pablo Zabaleta, but Cabellero made a crucial save.

    Creed movie star and boxer Tony Bellew was at the Etihad to support his Everton heroes, but they were on the ropes as City forced the pressure. Silva struck the post with a rare header, but it was De Bruyne, a 66th-minute substitute for Yaya Toure, who delivered the knockout blows.

    First he fired in Raheem Sterling’s cutback in the 70th minute, although the ball looked to have gone out before it was delivered, and then seven minutes later whipped in a glorious cross that was met by a perfectly-cushioned header from Aguero.

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