League Cup fifth round, King Power Stadium - Leicester City 1 (Dyer 77) Manchester City 3 (Kolarov 8, Dzeko 41, 53)
- Eurosport - Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov (left) celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's opening goal (PA Sports)
Manchester City eased into the semi-finals of the League Cup with a convincing 3-1 win over Leicester City .
A brace from Edin Dzeko and a cracking free kick by Aleksandr Kolarov were enough to put City through, despite a consolation byLloyd Dyer which led to a late revival of sorts for Leicester.
City took the lead after just eight minutes through the often frustrating Kolarov. Dzeko won a free-kick on the left side of the penalty area, around 25 yards from goal, after being chopped down by Anthony Knockaert. Kolarov stepped up and thrashed the ball into the top corner, and while Kasper Schmeichel got a hand to it, he couldn’t prevent it from going into the top corner.
Dzeko very nearly doubled their lead after good work from Kolarov down the left. He cut it back for the Bosnian in the six-yard box, but Schmeichel spread himself in a manner his father would have been proud of, and kept the ball out.
However, they did go 2-0 up four minutes before the break, after Milner found some space on the left side of the box. His cross-shot flicked up in the air, and Dzeko was there to head into the ground, then up into the roof of the net.
Dzeko made it three on 53 minutes, after Milner again ran down the left, cut back for the Bosnian who was given acres of room in the area to pick his spot, and he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Leicester hinted at a late revival, after Dyer combined with Paul Konchesky on the left, with his shot deflected past a helpless Joe Hart by City skipper Vincent Kompany.
The only slight fly in the ointment for City is that Pablo Zabaleta was forced off in the first half after appearing to pull a hamstring.
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH – Manuel Pellegrini names a pretty strong side for this trip to the King Power Stadium, with Joe Hart returning in goal, and David Silva playing behind Edin Dzeko. James Milnerstarts on the left, with Joleon Lescott partnering Vincent Kompany in defence.
8’ - GOAL - KOLAROV PUTS CITY AHEAD! Fantastic strike from Aleks Kolarov, who thwacks the free kick into the top corner from 25 yards. Schmeichel got a hand to it, but couldn't keep it out.
41’ - GOAL - DZEKO PUTS CITY TWO UP! Simple stuff from City. Milner finds some space on the left side of the area, his cross/shot is deflected up in the air, and Dzeko is there at the far post to nod it home.
53 - GOAL - DZEKO MAKES IT THREE! Well, that was ludicrously simple for City. Milner gets the ball from a throw and cuts back from the byline, where Dzeko waits in acres of space, and picks his spot in the bottom corner.
77 - GOAL - DYER PULLS ONE BACK FOR LEICESTER! Probably only a consolation, but Leicester have one after Konchesky pulls it back for Dyer, whose shot is deflected by Kompany past Hart at the near post.
KEY STATS
Manchester City had 58% possession, Leicester 42%
City had a total of 18 shots on goal, 10 of them on target
James Milner created five chances for his teammates, including setting up the third goal
TALKING POINT: The fly in the ointment for City. This was a job efficiently done by Manuel Pellegrini's side, but Pablo Zabaleta's injury will be a concern. The Argentinean had to limp off with a hamstring injury in the first half, meaning City have some problems at right back with Micah Richards also injured. The prospect of Dedryck Boyata against Premier League opposition is not one that most City fans will relish.
MAN OF THE MATCH
James Milner (Manchester City): City's unheralded utility man is often derided for his lack of creativity, but he was terrific against Leicester, creating five chances for assorted teammates and setting up Dzeko's second. He won't start many games for City, but he proved himself worthwhile in this game.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEICESTER: Schmeichel 7, Wasilewski 5, Morgan 8, Miquel 6, Konchesky 5, Knockaert 6, Drinkwater 6, King 6, Dyer 7, Nugent 5, Taylor-Fletcher 5. SUBS: Vardy 5, Schlupp 6, James 5.
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart 6, Zabaleta 4, Lescott 5, Kompany 5, Kolarov 6, Milner 8, Garcia 6, Rodwell 6, Navas 6, Silva 8, Dzeko 8. SUBS: Boyata 5, Nasri 5.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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