Manchester City secured a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Rayan Cherki put us on our way with a wonderful opener shortly after the half-hour when he hit a vicious strike into the top corner.
And Savinho doubled our lead midway through the second half with a deflected effort after a lightning fast break from the Brazilian.
City, who featured seven players in our squad that have come through our Academy, are into the last-four for the first time since 2020/21 when we lifted the trophy for an eighth occasion.
The game in 250 words
After beating Huddersfield and Swansea in the previous two rounds, we played our first Carabao Cup clash at a rain-soaked Etihad Stadium since September 2024.
Two of the seven changes from the team that beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, were wingers Savinho and Oscar Bobb and they started in lively fashion, the former drilling in an early dangerous cross and the latter cutting inside before firing a low shot at Hakon Valdimarsson.
However, the Norwegian suffered a 19th minute setback when he went off with an injury at the same time Brentford wanted Abdukodir Khusanov red-carded for a last-ditch foul on Kevin Schade as the striker tried to race clear, but he was only booked.
With two wingers in the side, Cherki was running the game from a more central vision and stung the palms of Valdimarsson before scoring a stunning opener.
When Divine Mukasa’s corner was cleared to the Frenchman on the edge of the box, he casually stepped inside a challenge before unleashing a 20-yard strike that neither the keeper nor a covering Michael Kayode could stop.
City had been largely in control but Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer forced James Trafford into a good save at the start of the second half with a 20-yard strike.
Valdimarsson, meanwhile, was at full stretch to keep out Foden’s low drive but he was out of luck when Savinho got City’s second.
The Brazilian broke clear at pace, stretching the Brentford defence before his shot deflected off Ajer and over the stranded keeper.
It killed off the visitors hopes and City went closest to adding another with Mukasa striking wide and Foden slaloming through the defence without getting off a shot.
Teams
City: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake (C), O’Reilly (Gvardiol 66), Nico (M Nunes 66), Reijnders, Bobb (Foden 19, Gray 82), Cherki (Bernardo 66), Savinho, Mukasa
Subs not used: Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Mfuni.
Brentford: Valdimarsson, Henry (Lewis-Potter 76), Van den Berg, Ajer, Collins (C), Kayode (Hickey 75), Jensen (Donovan 81), Yarmoliuk (Konak 88), Damsgaard, Janelt, Schade (G Nunes 88).
Subs not used: Kelleher, Pinnock, Peart-Harris, Arthur.
Academy dreams
The Academy continues to produce players prepared to push for the first team and seven of our squad involved against the Bees were homegrown.
Mukasa continued his record of being in the XI of every round of this season’s League Cup with Trafford, Lewis, Bobb and O’Reilly all learning their trade at the Etihad Campus.
Foden obviously is the most senior, coming on for his 341st City appearance, while 2024 Youth Cup winners Stephen Mfuni and Charlie Gray were on the bench.
Both have been with the club since the under-nines and Gray came on for his senior debut in the centre of midfield with 10 minutes remaining.
Star man
Number 10’s often have a swagger and showmanship that marks them out as special and Cherki has it in spades.
His goal was simply magnificent, pairing graceful craft with a brutal power for an unstoppable finish.
It was worthy of the three celebrations he gave it as he treated us to a knee slide, robot and finally a yoga pose!
But there was so much more to enjoy about his performance as he lit up the Etihad with wonderful flicks, dragbacks, great vision and the hard work that Pep Guardiola demands.
GUardiola reaction
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Player reaction
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What it means
The semi-final draw will be made following the Newcastle v Fulham game, which is the other quarter-final tonight and kicked off at 20:15 (UK).
Chelsea are also in the hat having beaten Cardiff City last night, while Arsenal play Crystal Palace next Tuesday.
What’s next
We’re back at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, 20 December as we return to Premier League action.
West Ham are the visitors for the 15:00 (UK) kick-off ahead of a seven-day break for Christmas.