SOUTHAMPTON: Champions Manchester City crashed out of the League Cup after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat at struggling Southampton in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Southampton, bottom of the Premier League table, scored twice in the first half through Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo and City never seriously threatened to get back into the match.

Mara scored his first goal for Southampton in the 23rd minute as he connected well with a whipped cross by Lyanco and the hosts doubled the lead five minutes later when Djenepo spotted City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega off of his line and curled a stunning effort into the top corner.

City, who have won the League Cup six times since 2014, failed to register a shot on target as the second-half introduction of substitutes Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland failed to spark a revival for Pep Guardiola’s side.

“The better team won. We didn’t play good. There are many games you can start not good and overcome but we didn’t do it,” Guardiola said.

“Today was a bad night, the opponent was better so we have to congratulate them. We didn’t deserve to win.”

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports that his side played without fear and praised new manager Nathan Jones.

“(It is) a special night. These games are special to play in especially when you’re struggling in the league. We knew this was a distraction from the league and a great showcase. We showed no fear.

The manager has been excellent and has given us fresh ideas and new energy. He wanted us to be bold and aggressive.

City came into the game off the back of a 4-0 demolition of Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday but failed to replicate the free-scoring form.

Manager Pep Guardiola named a strong side with Joao Cancelo, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Kalvin Phillips among the starters, yet apart from an early shot dragged wide by Gundogan they made little impression on the game.

It was Grealish who had made the error which led to the hosts’ opening goal, giving away possession to Lycano who raced up the wing before providing the cross for Mara.

Southampton have never won the League Cup, losing the 1979 and 2017 finals, and they will face Newcastle United in a two-legged semi-final later in January.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest earned a last four tie against Manchester United after beating Wolves 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

After last weekend’s embarrassing FA Cup loss against second tier Blackpool, Forest are back on the Wembley trail as they reached the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1992.

They took the lead through a close-range finish from former Wolves centre-back Willy Boly in the 18th minute.

Raul Jimenez grabbed Wolves’ 64th minute equaliser, but Dean Henderson was Forest’s shoot-out star as he saved penalties from Joe Hodge and Ruben Neves.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2023