MANCHESTER CITY MAINTAINED their lethal form in front of goal with a 3-1 League Cup quarter-final win at Leicester City, while Sunderland secured a dramatic extra-time victory over Chelsea.
South Korea’s Ki Sung-Yueng stunned Chelsea as the Sunderland midfielder’s first goal for the club sealed a shock 2-1 win in the League Cup quarter-finals, while Manchester City swept into the last four with a 3-1 victory at Leicester on Tuesday.
Gus Poyet’s team had been on the verge of defeat at the Stadium of Light after goal-line technology was used for the first time in the League Cup to give Chelsea the lead through Lee Cattermole’s own goal in the opening minute of the second half.
But Fabio Borini equalised for the Premier League’s bottom club in the 88th minute and Ki sent Sunderland into the semi-finals with a cool finish two minutes from the end of extra-time.
It was Ki’s first goal in 13 appearances for the Black Cats since his loan switch from Swansea, with whom he won the League Cup last season, in September.
Ki had never scored in English football since moving to Swansea from Celtic in 2012, and this was his first club goal since he netted for the Scottish giants at Hibernian in February 2012.
It was a dispiriting night for Blues boss Jose Mourinho, who won the League Cup twice in his first spell in charge of the west London club but saw his fears about his shot-shy team confirmed during a lacklustre display.
Mourinho made eight changes following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
And, after struggling to find any rhythm in a tepid opening 45 minutes, Chelsea took the lead less than 60 seconds after the break.
Frank Lampard was challenged by Cattermole near the goal-line as the pair competed for Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross and the ball rolled into the net.
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Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone tried to claw the ball out from behind the line, but the goal was correctly given, with referee Anthony Taylor pointing to his watch to indicate goal-line technology had been used to confirm the decision.
It was the first time goal-line technology had been used in the League Cup, although the system was established in the Premier League at the start of this season.
Samuel Eto’o should have doubled Chelsea’s lead soon after, yet the Cameroon forward’s poor form for the Blues continued as he shot well wide with just Mannone to beat.
And Sunderland took advantage of that escape to equalise when on-loan Liverpool striker Borini fired home from an acute angle after a driving run from Jozy Altidore.
Ki was denied by Mark Schwarzer’s fine save as Sunderland dominated extra-time, but he eventually sealed the win with a clinical low strike from Borini’s pass.
Meanwhile, at the King Power Stadium Aleksandar Kolarov opened the scoring early in the first half with a stunning 30-yard free kick, and Edin Dzeko doubled the visitors’ lead just before the break with a close-range header.
The Bosnian striker piled more misery on Leicester eight minutes into the second half with his seventh goal in eight League Cup appearances and Manchester City’s 19th in six matches.
Leicester — the last Championship representatives in the competition — struggled to stretch Joe Hart but were able to grab a late consolation as Lloyd Dyer netted his seventh goal of the season. Manuel Pellegrini’s men will have their sights set on a first League Cup crown since 1976, having reached a third semi-final in five seasons.
Manchester City’s line-up showed eight changes from the comprehensive 6-3 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal, with only Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and David Silva keeping their places. Gary Taylor-Fletcher made only his second start for Leicester – third in the Championship – as one of four alterations to the team who drew with Burnley. The visitors made a quick start at the King Power Stadium and, after coming close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute, moved ahead in the eighth.
Dzeko was fouled by Anthony Knockaert, and Kolarov curled the resulting free-kick up and over the wall into the top-left corner. Leicester worked their way back into the game with a high pressing game but chances were at a premium, and Manchester City almost caught their opponents cold on the counter-attack.
David Silva released Kolarov down the left and he rolled the ball into the unmarked Dzeko, but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel spread himself brilliantly to deny the Bosnian and Jack Rodwell was unable to convert the rebound.
With four minutes of the half remaining the Premier League side did double their lead through Dzeko.
James Milner was released on the left and delivered a perfectly chipped pass for his team-mate, who nonchalantly headed beyond Schmeichel. The visitors picked up where they left off in the second half as Dzeko doubled his tally after more good work from Milner.
After the England international had evaded challenges on the left, he found Dzeko unmarked in the penalty area and the 27-year-old fired home first time from 14 yards.
As Manchester City took their foot off the gas the hosts grabbed a 77th-minute consolation, Dyer’s effort deflecting off Vincent Kompany to leave Hart wrong-footed.
League Cup wrap: Sunderland shock Chelsea, Manchester City ease to win
Updated at 22.46
MANCHESTER CITY MAINTAINED their lethal form in front of goal with a 3-1 League Cup quarter-final win at Leicester City, while Sunderland secured a dramatic extra-time victory over Chelsea.
South Korea’s Ki Sung-Yueng stunned Chelsea as the Sunderland midfielder’s first goal for the club sealed a shock 2-1 win in the League Cup quarter-finals, while Manchester City swept into the last four with a 3-1 victory at Leicester on Tuesday.
Gus Poyet’s team had been on the verge of defeat at the Stadium of Light after goal-line technology was used for the first time in the League Cup to give Chelsea the lead through Lee Cattermole’s own goal in the opening minute of the second half.
But Fabio Borini equalised for the Premier League’s bottom club in the 88th minute and Ki sent Sunderland into the semi-finals with a cool finish two minutes from the end of extra-time.
It was Ki’s first goal in 13 appearances for the Black Cats since his loan switch from Swansea, with whom he won the League Cup last season, in September.
Mourinho made eight changes following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
And, after struggling to find any rhythm in a tepid opening 45 minutes, Chelsea took the lead less than 60 seconds after the break.
Frank Lampard was challenged by Cattermole near the goal-line as the pair competed for Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross and the ball rolled into the net.
Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone tried to claw the ball out from behind the line, but the goal was correctly given, with referee Anthony Taylor pointing to his watch to indicate goal-line technology had been used to confirm the decision.
It was the first time goal-line technology had been used in the League Cup, although the system was established in the Premier League at the start of this season.
Samuel Eto’o should have doubled Chelsea’s lead soon after, yet the Cameroon forward’s poor form for the Blues continued as he shot well wide with just Mannone to beat.
And Sunderland took advantage of that escape to equalise when on-loan Liverpool striker Borini fired home from an acute angle after a driving run from Jozy Altidore.
Ki was denied by Mark Schwarzer’s fine save as Sunderland dominated extra-time, but he eventually sealed the win with a clinical low strike from Borini’s pass.
YouTube credit: Machine Goal 3
Meanwhile, at the King Power Stadium Aleksandar Kolarov opened the scoring early in the first half with a stunning 30-yard free kick, and Edin Dzeko doubled the visitors’ lead just before the break with a close-range header.
The Bosnian striker piled more misery on Leicester eight minutes into the second half with his seventh goal in eight League Cup appearances and Manchester City’s 19th in six matches.
Leicester — the last Championship representatives in the competition — struggled to stretch Joe Hart but were able to grab a late consolation as Lloyd Dyer netted his seventh goal of the season. Manuel Pellegrini’s men will have their sights set on a first League Cup crown since 1976, having reached a third semi-final in five seasons.
Manchester City’s line-up showed eight changes from the comprehensive 6-3 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal, with only Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and David Silva keeping their places. Gary Taylor-Fletcher made only his second start for Leicester – third in the Championship – as one of four alterations to the team who drew with Burnley. The visitors made a quick start at the King Power Stadium and, after coming close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute, moved ahead in the eighth.
With four minutes of the half remaining the Premier League side did double their lead through Dzeko.
James Milner was released on the left and delivered a perfectly chipped pass for his team-mate, who nonchalantly headed beyond Schmeichel. The visitors picked up where they left off in the second half as Dzeko doubled his tally after more good work from Milner.
After the England international had evaded challenges on the left, he found Dzeko unmarked in the penalty area and the 27-year-old fired home first time from 14 yards.
As Manchester City took their foot off the gas the hosts grabbed a 77th-minute consolation, Dyer’s effort deflecting off Vincent Kompany to leave Hart wrong-footed.
YouTube credit: BestEpicFailsBlooper
Additional reporting by AFP
First published at 22.10
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