Manchester City 2 Huddersfield Town 0: City cruise into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Phil Foden 18′, Savinho 74′)

Huddersfield Town 0

Manchester City have booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-nil win over Huddersfield Town. Goals from Phil Foden and Savinho were enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to progress.

When the starting lineups were announced, six academy graduates were named in the City starting eleven. This shows how strong the City academy is, and how it is now becoming a path to the Manchester City first-team. There were a further four on the bench, which shows that the future is bright at City. Kalvin Phillips made the bench for tonight’s match at the Accu Stadium.

First half

The game began with the Huddersfield Town home fans in a buoyant mood. The first five minutes passed by without any major incident of note. Pep Guardiola’s side looked good in possession, and it was clear that Lee Grant’s side were eager to press Manchester City into mistakes in possession and look to get in behind Manchester City’s high defensive line.

Manchester City’s first shot on target came in the 12th minute. Phil Foden delivered a quality corner to the back post, and Divine Mukasa got a header on target. But his header lacked any power and fell safely into the arms of Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Lee Nichols.

Phil Foden fires Manchester City into the lead!!!!

Manchester City would take the lead in the 18th minute after a prolonged spell of possession. Phil Foden played a neat one-two with Divine Mukasa, who teed up Foden for a shot on goal from just outside the Huddersfield Town penalty area. Foden unleashed a powerful low drive into the bottom right corner, which was too powerful and too accurate for Huddersfield Town keeper Lee Nichols. Manchester City’s lead was well-deserved, given the manner of their early domination.

Following Phil Foden’s goal until the 30th minute, Manchester City continued to dominate possession. They had Huddersfield Town pinned in their own penalty area, although Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t create any significant chances. Phil Foden fired a free kick over the bar in the 28th minute, which was their only real chance of note after Foden’s opening goal until the half-hour mark.

Huddersfield Town created their first real opening in the 40th minute. A nicely worked move from the hosts saw Ben Wiles play in a good ball across the City penalty area from the left-hand side. His quality ball was just out of reach of Lasse Sorenson at the back post. But it was a warning to Pep Guardiola’s side that, despite their dominance in possession, the hosts did carry a threat when given the opportunity.

The remainder of the first half would play out without any major incidents. Manchester City would take a 1-nil lead into halftime. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession but didn’t really create any clear-cut chances. Huddersfield Town defended resolutely and were perhaps conserving their energy for a second-half burst.

Second half

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first half. Manchester City were dominant in possession and pinned Huddersfield Town in their own area. A cross from Nico O’Reilly in the 46th minute almost created an opening for Pep Guardiola’s side. But the Huddersfield Town defence scrambled the ball to safety. Savinho also scuffed a right-footed shot wide from a good position in the 49th minute. Those were City’s best openings in the first five minutes of the second half.

Lee Nichols would make a good save in the 53rd minute to keep the score 1-nil. Nico O’Reilly was played in on the left-hand side by a quality through ball from Nico. O’Reilly tried to chip Lee Nichols, but the Huddersfield Town goalkeeper had read O’Reilly’s intentions and made a good save.

Divine Mukasa would have Manchester City’s next shot on target on the hour mark. Oscar Bobb floated in a teasing cross from the right, which was initially dealt with by the Huddersfield Town defence. The ball fell to Mukasa, who fired in a volley which was hit straight at Lee Nichols. Pep Guardiola’s side began creating more space as the Huddersfield Town players began to tire under the weight of City possession.

Murray Wallace put a header over the bar for Huddersfield Town from the edge of the City six-yard box from a free kick in the 65th minute. Perhaps set pieces would be Lee Grant’s side’s best chance of finding an equaliser. A minute later, Oscar Bobb saw a shot saved by Lee Nichols, low down to his left at the near post, as City sought to put the game to bed.

Savinho doubles Manchester City’s lead!!!!

Manchester City would take a 2-nil lead in the 74th minute. Pep Guardiola’s side had dominated possession, and it felt like a second goal was coming. It would finally arrive in the 74th minute. After the ball bobbled around on the edge of the Huddersfield Town area, Divine Mukasa helped City keep possession. The ball came to Phil Foden, who shifted it out wide to Savinho on the left. Savinho powered his way into a good position and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to beat Lee Nichols and double Manchester City’s lead.

After Nico fired a shot over the bar in the 78th minute, Pep Guardiola made several substitutions. Kalvin Phillips came on, and there was a first-team debut for Reigan Heskey. He joined his brother Jaden Heskey on the pitch in a special moment for the Heskey family.

Huddersfield Town almost found a lifeline in the 88th minute. After winning the ball in midfield, the hosts burst forward. Cameron Ashia was found on the left wing in acres of space. Ashia unleashed a powerful shot on goal from the left, which had James Trafford beaten, but it hit the far post and stayed out. It was Huddersfield Town’s best moment of the match, and it was a bullet dodged for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Outside of a Reigan Heskey shot that was saved by Lee Nichols, there were no more major incidents that occurred before the final whistle blew. Manchester City booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 2-nil win.

First thoughts after the final whistle.

If you were to draw up the ideal Carabao Cup tie for Pep Guardiola’s side, that would be it. They picked up a comfortable victory and got minutes into the legs of players that needed them. Phil Foden, Savinho, and Nico were impressive, and Divine Mukasa had some impressive moments in his first-team debut. Manchester City have seen off Huddersfield Town and will now continue their preparations for this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Burnley at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.