In the first leg of the English League Cup (Carabao Cup) semi-final, Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 away, achieving a result that made them feel much more relaxed before the second leg. Despite the noisy stadium, physically strong opponents, and pressure, the "citizens" kept the situation under control and made good use of opportunities.
The visitors' victory was secured by goals scored by Ryan Scherky and Antoine Semeno. Uzbekistan national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov played the full 90 minutes of the match and was one of the most stable players in the team.
A reputable source - cityxtra.co.uk experts assessed the actions of Manchester City players after the match. Below are those ratings and short notes:
Manchester City player ratings
James Trafford - 7.5
He made one of the most brilliant saves in the tournament, returning a header from Visa's shot to the crossbar. Overall, there wasn't much pressure, but it was a reliable game for him.
Mateus Nunes - 5
He received a yellow card for a foul against Gordon before the break. He looked quite unreliable in the first half, and given his good performances this season, it didn't suit him.
Abdukodir Khusanov - 7.5
In some episodes, he seemed to lack caution with the ball, but played very strongly in defense. While the absence of Ruben Dias and Yoshko Guardiol was noticeable, the Uzbek defender made a significant contribution to the team's defense.
Max Alleyn - 7.5
Despite being 20 years old, he plays very calmly in the starting lineup. Guardiola's desire to keep him on the team wasn't without reason.
Nathan Ake - 6.5
He showed more organized play in the left wing defense. He acted alertly, and one of his passes put Trafford in an awkward position, almost leading to an own goal.
Nico O'Reilly - 6
Joelinton received an unnecessary yellow while deflecting from the ball. Nevertheless, he proved himself well in the center, demonstrating his versatility.
Bernardo Silva - 7.5
He played a lot of fouls, and there were some mistakes. However, he still showed a smart and useful game, benefiting the team with a goal-scoring pass.
Phil Foden - 6
He helped the defense, but wasn't as impressive in attack as usual. Experts assessed the decision to replace it as correct.
Antoine Semeno - 8 (Player of the Match)
He was distinguished by his physical fitness and mobility. Thanks to his vigilance, he scored another goal. Experts believe his second goal could have been taken into account.
Jeremy Doku - 7
Until the 77th minute, he created quite a problem for Newcastle. Playing very actively on the left wing, he played a key role in the opening goal episode.
Erling Haaland - 5.5
There weren't many scoring opportunities. His physical strength is useful in standard situations, but so far it hasn't yielded the expected results in terms of goals.
Reserved
Ryan Ait-Nuri - 7
At the end of the game, he acted correctly against the opponent's pressure, brought calmness to the team, and assisted the decisive goal.
Ryan Sherki - 7.5
Having come off the bench, he looked very active. Participating in counterattacks, he scored the decisive goal in the last minutes.
Rico Lewis - 6
On the right wing, he proved to be a more reliable option than Nunes. He played steadily for the remaining minutes.
Rodri - 6.5
His appearance was crucial for City. He ensured control, calmness, and ball possession in the center.
Tijani Reynders - 6
Foden came on as a good substitute, leaving the head coach a "sweet headache" in the squad selection with his active movements.
The overall picture is as follows: City completed half of the task with a 2-0 away victory. For us, the most pleasant thing is Husanov's reliable play for 90 minutes and his high praise from experts. If this trend continues, the role of "our own person" in the "citizens'" defense will be further strengthened.
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