The selection of an underpowered starting lineup by Pep Guardiola backfired as Manchester City was defeated 2-0 by Southampton in Wednesday's EFL Cup quarterfinal round.
With Saturday's league match against Manchester United in mind, City substituted Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Ederson at St. Mary's.
That turned out to be expensive as Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo gave the bottom-placed team in the Premier League a two-goal lead at halftime by capitalizing on some bad positioning by Stefan Ortega. De Bruyne and Erling Haaland's additions gave City a minor increase in attacking prowess, but they were unable to recover from their shocking defeat.
Duje Caleta-low Car's effort was deflected by Ortega, who did well, but Mara's first-time shot, which came after the striker moved in front of Kyle Walker to finish Lyanco's cross, could not be stopped. Five minutes later, Djenepo cut inside, saw Ortega well off his line, and performed his lobbed finish from 30 yards to perfection to give Southampton a second goal
After halftime, Guardiola intervened by making three substitutions, and Haaland was added ten minutes later, but City's response did not reach the south coast.
The visitors fell for the fourth time in 28 games this season and for the first time since the World Cup break as they failed to attempt a single shot on goal.
SAINTS STUN CITY TO ADVANCE TO THE SEMIFINALS
City had won this tournament six times out of the last nine times, but they paid a price for the five alterations they made to their starting lineup, which included adding Walker as a center back to a back four. The substitutes made by City didn't really make a difference, as Southampton became just the third team to defeat Guardiola's City in the EFL Cup, behind Man Utd (twice) and West Ham.
The Saints, who are three points out of a playoff spot in the Premier League, will be drawn against Man United, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest later on Wednesday.
SHOT-SHY CITY REFUSE TO SHOW UP
The selection of an underpowered starting lineup by Pep Guardiola backfired as Manchester City was defeated 2-0 by Southampton in Wednesday's EFL Cup quarterfinal round.
With Saturday's league match against Manchester United in mind, City substituted Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Ederson at St. Mary's. That turned out to be expensive as Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo gave the bottom-placed team in the Premier League a two-goal lead at halftime by capitalizing on some bad positioning by Stefan Ortega.
De Bruyne and Erling Haaland's additions gave City a minor increase in attacking prowess, but they were unable to recover from their shocking defeat. Duje Caleta-feeble Car's attempt was deflected by Ortega, who performed well, but Mara's
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