Manchester City booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a composed 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad, a night illuminated by a moment of individual genius from Rayan Cherki and underpinned by Guardiola’s growing belief in the depth of his squad.
The tie swung decisively midway through the first half when Cherki produced a stunning strike from distance, curling the ball beyond Hakon Valdimarsson and into the top corner to break Brentford’s resistance. It was a goal worthy of a knockout stage, instantly lifting the atmosphere and tilting the contest firmly in City’s favour.
Before that moment, however, the visitors felt they had been hard done by. Brentford were incensed when Abdukodir Khusanov escaped with only a yellow card after bringing down Kevin Schade as the last defender during a rare Bees break. With no VAR in operation at this stage of the competition, referee Samuel Barrott’s decision stood, much to the frustration of Keith Andrews and his players, who believed the incident should have resulted in a dismissal.
Rather than galvanising Brentford, the controversy seemed to sap their momentum. City, fielding a heavily rotated side, grew in confidence and control, circulating the ball with patience and forcing the visitors deeper. Stand-in goalkeeper James Trafford, given the nod amid recent uncertainty over his role, was largely untroubled as City suffocated Brentford’s attacking threat.
The second goal arrived midway through the second half and effectively sealed the contest. Savinho combined neatly with Phil Foden before lifting a deflected effort over Valdimarsson, a goal that reflected City’s ability to strike decisively even without their usual rhythm. From there, Guardiola’s side managed the game professionally, limiting risk and seeing out a win that was far more comfortable than pre-match expectations suggested.
The result carries added significance for City, who had surprisingly failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of this competition in recent seasons despite their domestic dominance elsewhere. With a congested January schedule looming – including Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Manchester United – Guardiola’s decision to still call upon key figures such as Foden underlined how seriously he viewed the opportunity to return to the latter stages.
City will now face Newcastle over two legs in the semi-finals, continuing a run of strong form that has seen them collect six straight wins in all competitions. There is a growing sense that Guardiola’s side are rediscovering the sharpness and cohesion that once made them so relentless.
For Brentford, the evening will be remembered as a missed opportunity to capitalise on a major refereeing moment. While they competed diligently for spells, their lack of cutting edge and inability to recover after falling behind left them with little chance of forcing a dramatic finish.
With Cherki’s flair, Savinho’s composure and the squad buying into Guardiola’s rotation, City move one step closer to silverware and are beginning to look every inch a team hitting stride at the business end of the season.
