Foden shines as City safely through

Andrew McAlister 6 years ago 2.6k |

Reading time: minutes

Phil Foden opened his account for Manchester City. AFP

The Carabao Cup holders, Manchester City, got back to where they left off in last year's final, with another 3-0 win in the tournament. The victims, an unfortunate Oxford United, who put in a valiant display against Pep Guardiola's side.

The gulf in class between both sides was evident once the team sheets were announced. City showed their financial prowess with multi-million pound signings Danilo, Otamendi, David Silva, John Stones, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus starting, each one costing more than Oxford United's entire team. Highly-rated youngsters Brahim Diaz and Phil Foden joined debutant Aro Muric for an opportunity to show their class in front of Pep Guardiola.

Brahim Diaz led the first few attacks for the 'Citizens' with several marauding runs down the left, but his crosses were always inches away from the head of Gabriel Jesus. Aro Muric illustrated he is no novice to playing out from the back, using the tactic to suppress a high press from Oxford in the opening minutes.

The Brazilian prodigy did soon have the ball in the net, however, celebrating only to see the linesman's flag had been raised. Zinchenko and Kompany also forced strong saves out of Oxford goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, though the deadlock was proving harder to break than the Premier League champions may have been expecting.

The breakthrough finally came via the head of Gabriel Jesus. Brazil's No. 9 has struggled in recent weeks to get back to his prolific standards of last season, but made no mistake in the 36th minute at the Kassam Stadium. Foden sent a raking ball over the top to an unmarked Brahim Diaz, who took it down neatly and cut inside the first defender before striking towards goal. His effort was blocked, but bounced kindly for Jesus who nodded down and past Mitchell.

The visitors went into the break with the lead, although, quite frankly, it could and maybe should have been more. Guardiola's men continued where they left off with an impressive counter-attack just after the break, but neither David Silva, Diaz, Foden nor Jesus could muster an attempt on target, despite being four-on-two with the Oxford defence.

Efforts from Mahrez and Jesus once more failed to trouble Mitchell, and the 'Yellows' came excruciatingly close to an equaliser in the 75th minute as Aro Muric missed his moment to punch out a cross - a goalmouth scramble ensued, but City were somehow able to clear.

Then, the turning point. Oxford piled forward once more in search of a goal, but a corner ended in disaster as City showed why they are champions of England. Phil Foden raced away on a counter-attack before looping a perfectly-weighted ball over the top to summer-signing Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian took the ball down exquisitely before firing past Mitchell on his weaker side. Clinical from the 'Citizens'.

Oxford looked deflated after the second goal, and Foden soon made it game over. With an assist already in the bag, the night's 'Man of the Match' was becoming frustrated as he tried to open his scoring account for the 'Sky Blues'. Seeing his 88th minute attempt tipped over the crossbar by Mitchell, some fans may have thought Foden would have had to wait for another day - this was not the case, as the 'Stockport Iniesta' capped off a wonderful display with a well-taken finish.

Sterling and City poured forward and, with Foden in space on the left, carved the opportunity for the youngster to score. No need for a first touch, as Foden drove the ball past Mitchell and into the far corner - no mistake this time. The lifelong-City fan celebrated in front of adoring fans, and will not be forgetting that moment any time soon.

The holders go safely through to round four of the Carabao Cup, as their attention now turns to the Premier League. The 'Citizens' face Brighton at the Etihad on Saturday.