City cruise to Carabao Cup Quarter Finals after Brahim Diaz double sinks Fulham

Manchester City secured their place in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup on Thursday night with a routine win over Fulham. Two goals from Brahim Diaz sealed the Cottagers faith in the second half but truth be told this was a walk in the park for the current holders of the cup.

Diaz opened the scoring for the Blues after 18 minutes when his deflected effort beat Sergio Rio in the Fulham goal. The Cottagers failed to clear a Kevin De Bruyne corner kick which was rebounded off City skipper Vincent Kompany and into the path of the young Spaniard. His shot from about 12 yards out was deflected into the corner of the net for his firs senior goal for the club.

By this stage City where in complete control and the game almost had a feel of a testimonial about it. Fulham didn’t really offer any threat up the other end and where saved by the post after a Danilo strike.

Gabriel Jesus was next to go close after his dazzling run and curled effort was touched round the post by the fingertips of Rico close to halftime.

The second half started much like the first ended with City dominating the ball as their 64% possession stat would suggest. While Fulham didn’t create any chances, at 1-0 they were still in the game. It took Guardiola’s men until the 65th minute to finally seal the victory when Diaz would grab his second of the night.

After some lovely play down the left hand side by Leroy Sane, he slipped in Gabriel Jesus who curled a right footed effort off the post. This dropped into the path of the onrushing Diaz who was able to hammer it into the roof of the net. City kept the ball for the remaining 25 minutes and Fulham manager Slaivisa Jokanovic will be disappointed his team couldn’t really threaten debutant Arijanet Muric in the City goal.

Diaz, who was announced as Man of the Match on the night had support all throughout from his fellow academy graduate Phil Foden, who along with Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings in midfield all night.

Guardiola will be happy with how his young side handled the game so well and in truth his much changed side made it look incredible easy. City will be back in action on Sunday as they face a struggling Southampton side in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium.

City will face either Leicester City or Southampton in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup on the 17th December after the draw was made on Wednesday night.