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Sergio Aguero was on the scoresheet tonight. Jon Super

As it happened: Manchester City v Everton, Capital One Cup semi-final

The Toffees held a 2-1 lead heading into tonight’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

GOOD EVENING! AFTER Liverpool needed a penalty shootout to book their place in this season’s Capital One Cup final last night, Manchester City and Everton go head-to-head to with the remaining spot at Wembley Stadium on 28 February up for grabs.

The Toffees claimed 2-1 victory over City in the first leg but can their leaky defence keep out Sergio Aguero and Co. at the Etihad Stadium tonight?

Here are the teams:

Manchester City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Delph, Silva, Toure, Sterling, Aguero.

 

Everton: Joel, Baines, Stones, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Cleverley, Barry, Deulofeu, Barkley, Osman, Lukaku.

Joe Hart is named on the bench as Manuel Pellegrini goes with Willy Caballero between the sticks while Raheem Sterling comes in for Jesus Navas.

For Everton, the injured Muhamed Besic misses out while Irish pair Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are both substitutes.

Everton v Manchester City - Capital One Cup - Semi Final - First Leg - Goodison Park Man City goalkeeper Willy Caballero starts. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Okay, call it… Who is going through tonight?


Poll Results:

Everton (295)
Manchester City (229)

KICK-OFF – We’re off and running here. Both clubs in their traditional blue strips.

City Everton kick 0ff

Aguero breaks down the right-hand side and wins an early corner off Funes Mori.  It’s cleared, however.

A beautiful counter-attack by Deulofeu earns the Spaniard some space out wide but, with options in the middle, he opts to over-run the ball and it’s deflected behind for a corner.

The opening ten minutes have seen City probing to find an opening in the Everton defence but they have been resolute so far.

David Silva has been busying during these early stages and an exchange between him an Yaya Toure very nearly produces a goalscoring chance but it’s snuffed out.

City are very much on top here.

GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Everton (1-3 on agg) (Ross Barkley) 

Everton are in front on the night! Ross Barkley picks up the ball in a deep position, holds of Otamendi and advances forward before drilling the ball into the bottom corner.

Superb solo goal but the City defence left a lot to be desired.

The goal is well worth a watch.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Everton (2-3 on agg) (Fernandinho) 

City with a quick response. Aguero’s shot is deflected out to the edge of the box where Fernandinho has a pop. His effort comes off Baines and loops past Robles.

Unlucky deflection off Baines.

Not only does this man still attend most of Manchester United’s matches, he’s happy to spend his Wednesday night out watching “the noisy neighbours”.

Fergie Etihad

Huge let-off for Everton. Aguero smashes the ball off the post, then Robles has to save a close range shot by Silva after Barry is caught in possession.

Deulofeu fires a free-kick over the wall and over the bar from 30 yards.

Just the one minute of added time to play.

Half-time: Manchester City 1-1 Everton (Everton lead 3-2 on agg) 

Britain Soccer League Cup City goalscorer Fernandinho. Jon Super Jon Super

The stats so far courtesy of Sky Sports:

Man City Everton stats

And we’re back. The only half-time substitution sees City bring on Jesus Navas for Fabian Delph.

Silva loses the ball, Barkley feeds Deulofeu and Caballero saves the former Barcelona man’s low shot before the ball is booted out of danger. Good chance.

Another decent opportunity for City goes begging. Navas squares to Aguero but the Argentine striker gets his timing wrong and completely mishits the shot.

CLOSE! Yet more pressure from City results in Silva rising highest to head onto the post.

It looks like James McCarthy and Arouna Kone are about to be introduced…

Everton make a double change – Osman and Deulofeu off for McCarthy and Kone.

City substitution, and it’s Toure making way for Kevin de Bruyne.

GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Everton (3-3 on agg) (De Bruyne) 

He’s not long on the field but De Bruyne has levelled things on and put City ahead on the night. Sterling gets to the end line and possibly runs the ball out of play before cutting it back for the Belgian to finish.

Controversial goal but we’re going to extra-time if it stays like this.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Everton (Man City lead 4-3 on agg) (Sergio Aguero) 

Incredible. For the first time tonight, Man City are in front. De Bruyne’s cross is met by Aguero, who guides the ball past Robles with an outstanding header.

 

Tends to pick up injuries far too often, but when he’s fully fit City’s top scorer is unstoppable.

 

It’s not looking good for De Bruyne here. He looks to have suffered a bad knee injury.

De Bruyne injury

Full-time: Manchester City 3-1 Everton (Man City win 4-3 on agg) 

Man City will play Liverpool in the final of this year’s Capital One Cup final on 28 February!

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Ben Blake
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