Minutes were non existent for Americans in the Carabao Cup this week, with Zack Steffen earning the only mentionable minutes in their dominant win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Manchester City 6 – 1 Wycombe Wanderers
Zack Steffen got the start for Manchester City as the home team easily dispatched the overmatched League One outfit Wycombe.
It was all guns blazing for the reigning champions, even with half of their squad for this game being youngsters. City have won six out of the last eight trophies in this competition, having been crowned Carabao Cup Champions in the previous four editions.
It looked like early blushes for the home side as Brandon Hanlon scored in the 22nd minute for Wycombe. After a Wycombe corner kick there was a scramble in the box, but Hanlon stayed open at the back post for an easy tap in once it fell his way.
City went on to add a hat-trick of goals either side of the half, the first one coming just nine minutes later in the 29th minute.
Phil Foden sprung a counter attack that Kevin de Bruyne finished in style. Rahid Mayrez scored his first of the night in the 43rd minute after hitting the post earlier in the half after a City cutback pass to slot home. Foden added one more just before the break with a thunderous strike from outside the box off of a short corner.
The misery went from bad to worse for Wycombe with three more second half goals from the hosts. Ferran Torres scored in the 71st, Mahrez got his second in the 83rd, and Cole Palmer notched his first goal in the 88th minute.
City advance to the next round, but it’s all eyes on a battle for the top as they take the trip to London to face Chelsea in Premier League action this weekend.
Notes
Chelsea advanced in the Carabao Cup on a penalty win over Aston Villa, but without Christian Pulisic, who is still out injured.
Norwich City lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, a game that did not see Josh Sargent make the bench.
Folarin Balogun was on the bench for Arsenal in their 3-0 home win over Wimbledon, playing the last 7 minutes of the game.
Matthew Olosunde did not feature for Preston North End in their 4-1 win against Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup.
Fulham were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to Leeds United, with both Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson rested for the occasion.