Carabao Cup: Pep Guardiola Reaches First English Final After Man City Overcome Gutsy Bristol City (Video)

Alan Duffy

23rd, January 2018

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In what was his 500th game in charge of a European top-flight side, Pep Guardiola booked his place in an English final for the first time after watching his Manchester City side beat Bristol City 3-2 at Ashton Gate.

Taking a 2-1 lead into the second-leg of their Carabao Cup second leg, Guardiola named a pretty much full-strength line-up as he looked to secure a Wembley berth.

The visitors started strongly but it took until just before half-time for the deadlock to be broken, with Leroy Sane opening the scoring after some weak defending from the hosts.

Soon after the restart, the Citizens doubled their advantage to make it 4-1 on aggregate, with Sergio Aguero thumping home after a fantastic Kevin De Bruyne assist.

However, Bristol City kept on fighting, and got one back just after the hour-mark, courtesy of a superb headed effort from Marlon Pack.

In injury time, the Championship side would get another to make it 2-2 on the night and 4-3 to the Citizens on aggregate, with Aden Flint scoring.

Alas for the home side, any hopes of an incredible comeback were halted by De Bruyne, who netted the fifth and final goal of the game in the 94th minute, after good play from Sane.

So despite a valiant effort from the Robins, Manchester City progressed via a 5-3 aggregate scoreline to the Carabo Cup final in February, which will be Guardiola’s first final in English football.

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Although we rather doubt it’ll be his last.

As for Lee Johnson and Bristol City, they can now focus on getting themselves out of the Championship and into the top-flight.