Carabao Cup
Result: Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
Date: 01 November 2018
Venue: Etihad
Manchester City advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Fulham at the Etihad on Thursday evening. After a low-key start, City came close to the opener when Kevin De Bruyne turned Leroy Sane's cross to the side-netting on 10 minutes. Four minutes later, a shot from Phil Foden's long-range drive required Sergio Rico to parry to De Bruyne who had a crack that deflected off a defender for a corner. The first chance for Fulham arrived after 16 minutes when Luciano Vietto charged down before taking aim straight at Aro Muric. Soon though, the wind was blown off their sails when Brahim Diaz finished off a move by Sane following a corner on 18 minutes to hand the home side the lead. For the Citizens, the breakthrough was just what the doctor ordered as Danilo danced through the opposition defence before cracking the frame of the post and crossbar after 24 minutes. A well-struck free-kick by De Bruyne from a dangerous position almost crept into the top of the post, but unfortunately it didn't dip successfully with four minutes before the break. A minute to halftime, it was almost two for City, but Foden failed to direct De Bruyne's perfectly placed cross to goal. Gabriel Jesus managed to get on the end of a cross but was unable to get the header on target as it sailed over after 49 minutes. De Bruyne opened himself up from a distance to get a crack on goal but failed to test Rico who watched it sky over in the 53rd minute. Little bit of pressure from the Cottages came forth with Schurrle having his curler saved by Muric on 58 minutes. Just as a come back beckoned, Diaz was in the thick of things to complete his double by finishing off a rebound off the post following an effort by Jesus after 65 minutes. Victory a near certainty, Diaz made way for Riyad Mahrez with less than 12 minutes remaining as their change of the game. For what it's worth, Fulham tried to end with a bit of pride as Ryan Sessegnon's cross-field pass found Vietto in the area but he wasn't able to pick out any of his teammates for a shot on goal. In the end, City weren't feeling any trouble and managed to see out the game with a degree of comfort, as they will now face the winner of the fourth round tie between Leicester City and Southampton.
