MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 BRENTFORD
By Our Man at the Etihad
THERE was a time when a wet Wednesday night in the North West was the ultimate test of a team’s mettle. But for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the rain-lashed Etihad Stadium has become a fortress of such formidable proportions that even a “Bees” sting felt like a mere drizzle.
In a match played under a relentless Mancunian downpour that turned the Etihad turf into a slick, high-speed stage, City booked their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a clinical 2-0 dismissal of Brentford.
While the scoreline suggests a routine night at the office, the atmosphere inside the Etihad was anything but dry.
The 55,000-strong crowd braved the elements to watch a rotated City side prove that their “B-team” still carries an A-list punch.
The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute by Rayan Cherki.
After a corner was only partially cleared, the Frenchman collected the ball on the edge of the area, danced past a desperate Mikkel Damsgaard, and rifled a “Christmas Cracker” into the top corner.
The Etihad erupted, the roar of the home faithful momentarily drowning out the sound of the rain drumming against the stadium’s iconic tension-cable roof.
Brentford, led by Keith Andrews, showed flashes of bravery on the counter, but the slick surface and City’s dominance in possession made for a long night for the visitors.
The result was effectively put to bed in the 67th minute. Savinho, a livewire throughout the night, surged forward on a lightning break.
His left-footed strike took a wicked deflection off Kristoffer Ajer, looping high over a helpless Hakon Valdimarsson and nestling into the far corner. It was a goal that reflected the conditions—unpredictable and unforgiving for the defenders.
The victory extends City’s incredible home record in the EFL Cup to 14 wins in their last 15 outings at the Etihad.
For Brentford, it was a night of “what ifs,” particularly after Abdukodir Khusanov escaped a red card for a last-man challenge on Kevin Schade in the first half.
As the final whistle blew, the City fans filtered out into the cold Manchester night, soaked to the bone but warmed by the knowledge that their side is heading to the final four.
For the Bees, it’s a quiet journey back to London, having learned the hard way that when the Etihad rain starts falling, City usually start scoring.
