Southampton 2-0 Man City: Player ratings as Saints spring Carabao Cup shock
Southampton pulled off a huge shock against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals for only the second time in 35 years.
The Saints did get to the final as recently as 2017, but few gave them a chance of advancing against City given how poor their league form has been this season.
Pep Guardiola opted for a rotated side and ultimately paid the price. The City boss even resorted to a number of changes at half-time, including the introduction of Erling Haaland, but to no avail.
Southampton started the stronger and had the first chance when Stefan Ortega tipped away a goal-bound volley from Saints centre-back Duje Caleta-Car. It was a warning sign and the decisive quickfire first half double followed not too long after.
Sekou Mara got his first goal for the club after Lyanco won the ball and whipped the ball into the box, a sublime clinical finish. Moments later, Moussa Djenepo doubled that lead when he drove infield and lofted a curling effort over the head of Ortega to send St Mary’s into a state of delirium.
As well as Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne was also among those City stars to come on at half-time, but the hosts did enough to soak up the pressure without giving away much in the way of chances. Julian Alvarez had a late opportunity but goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was equal to it.
Southampton player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Bazunu (7); RB: Lyanco (8), CB: Caleta-Car (7), CB: Salisu (7), LB: Walker-Peters (7); CM: Lavia (8), CM: Diallo (7); RM: Djenepo (8), AM: Ward-Prowse (7), LM: Armstrong (6); ST: Mara (8)
Subs: Perraud (7), Elyououssi (7), Adams (7), Orsic (N/A)
Man City player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Ortega (5); RB: Cancelo (5), CB: Walker (5), CB: Laporte (6), LB: Gomez (6); CM: Palmer (5), CM: Phillips (6), CM: Gundogan (6); RW: Foden (6); ST: Alvarez (5), LW: Grealish (6)
Subs: Ake (6), Akanji (6), De Bruyne (6), Haaland (5), Rodri (6)