Manchester City have progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup after beating Chelsea 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium this evening.
Second-half strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez were enough to see the Citizens come out on top despite a valiant performance from Graham Potter's side.
Pep Guardiola's men, who have won the EFL Cup in four of the last five seasons, will now have their name in the hat for Thursday's fourth-round draw, while last season's finalists Chelsea have been sent packing as early as the third round for the first time in 12 years.
Both sides made seven changes to their starting lineups from the weekend, but that did not hinder of quality on show and the two teams made a confident start to the contest.
Livewire Jack Grealish was one of City's brightest stars on the night, and the playmaker came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when a curling strike from the edge of the area flew narrowly wide of the near post.
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City were in control during the first 45 with over two thirds of the possession, but they were wary of the danger that Chelsea posed on the counter-attack, with the Blues breaking forward in numbers on several occasions.
Indeed, Christian Pulisic looked threatening in the final third and he was presented with a good opportunity in the 13th minute, but his tame deflected effort on the six-yard line was kept out at point-blank range by Stefan Ortega.
City skipper Ilkay Gundogan came close with a deflected free kick gliding just over the crossbar, before the German midfielder teed up Alvarez for a first-time strike inside the penalty box, but the toe of Kalidou Koulibaly prevented the Argentine's effort from hitting the target.
Pulisic was in the thick of the action once again when he burst forward from his own half towards the edge of the area, before forcing Ortega to stretch to his left to keep out the American's curling strike.
Eighteen-year-old Lewis Hall, starting his second senior game for Chelsea, was another standout performer for the visitors and the best chance of the first half fell to the makeshift left wing-back just two minutes before the break.
Chelsea come so close to the opener! 😮 pic.twitter.com/UEMRFNFwrS
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 9, 2022
Hall received the ball inside the area and skipped past Rico Lewis before shooting straight at the outstretched right leg of Ortega, who made himself big to keep the scores level.
The introduction of Kalvin Phillips, returning after eight weeks out with a shoulder injury, received a roar form the Etihad faithful five minutes after the interval, and the City supporters were off their seats again just three minutes later when Mahrez broke the deadlock.
A perfect free-kick from Mahrez gives City the lead! ✨ pic.twitter.com/SXo3IletFC
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 9, 2022
The Algerian winger fired his free kick over the head of Koulibaly – the only Chelsea man in the wall who decided not to jump – and into the right-hand side of the goal.
Mahrez was then involved again as the hosts doubled their lead four minutes later, with City's No.26 forcing a diving save from Edouard Mendy, which was parried into the path of Alvarez to tap home from close range.
Álvarez makes it two! 💥 pic.twitter.com/E17E5gMg8n
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 9, 2022
Chelsea came close to halving the deficit in the 63rd minute when Hakim Ziyech majestically swivelled past Sergio Gomez on the byline before setting up Hall centrally inside the area, but the teenager saw his effort tipped away by Ortega.
Potter made four changes before the 70-minute mark in an attempt to instigate a fightback from the visitors, with former Man City star Raheem Sterling – who was applauded by the home supporters on his return to the Etihad – among those called upon from the substitutes' bench.
Another substitute, Mason Mount, fizzed a decent effort wide of the post from inside the area, and Chelsea then thought that they had pulled one back in the 89th minute, but Pulisic received the ball in an offside position before firing a deflected strike from a tight angle into the back of the net.
Guardiola's side eventually held on for the victory which has seen them extend their impressive winning streak at the Etihad to 17 games across all competitions.
As for Chelsea, they have lost three of their last four matches and have won only two of their last seven games in all tournaments under Potter.
Man City will now prepare for Saturday lunchtime's Premier League encounter at home against Brentford, while Chelsea face a tricky contest away at high-flying Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Oliver Thomas
