Sides from the Premier League dominated the quarter-finals of the League Cup yesterday, as the remaining Football League sides crashed out of the competition. Last night's results guarantee an all-Premier League last-four, with Manchester City, Stoke City and Everton already through. Southampton and Liverpool will battle it out at St Mary’s later this evening for the remaining semi-final berth.
Manchester City 4 - 1 Hull City (Half-time 1-0).
The Premier League leaders enjoyed a stroll in the end at the Etihad, after an early Wilfried Bony strike had given them the lead.Profligate finishing from the home side enabled Hull to remain in the contest though until the last ten minutes of the game.
The Manchester club seemed to click into gear thereafter, as goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and star player Kevin de Bruyne (twice) added some deserved gloss to the score-line. Hull’s travelling fans at least had the minor consolation of a late goal from Andrew Robertson to reward their loyal support.
Stoke City 2 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday (Half-time 1-0).
Stoke ended Wednesday's cup dream after their surprise victory over Arsenal earlier in the competition, providing hope for their own fans in the process of a first League Cup success since 1972. Mark Hughes' side are formidable opposition, especially at the Britannia Stadium, and ultimately proved too strong for their Championship rivals after a dominant display.
Ibrahim Afellay netted his first goal for Stoke on the half-hour mark, before the result was confirmed 15 minutes from time for the Potters by another player bagging his first City goal. This time it was Phil Bardsley who achieved the feat with a powerful shot from all of 30 yards.
Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Everton (Half-time 0-2).
Boro had seemed to be the most likely team to spring a surprise in the quarter-finals after drawing home advantage. But the Toffees are fast emerging as the form side in the top league this season after a plethora of goals from their forward line recently.
They were clinically astute in the manner in which they exposed shortfalls in the home side's defence twice in the first period.
First they broke at pace after Boro lost the ball, the impressive if precocious former Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu carrying the ball and then cleverly picking his spot past Tomas Mejias into the corner of the net.
Then after a long period of keep ball with Boro chasing shadows, Deulofeu tormented the left back before delivering a delicious cross on to Romelu Lukaku's head. The Belgian striker needed little encouragement to place his pinpoint header into the corner of the net.
Although the hosts improved after the break, they could not find a way back into the match.
Semi-final draw
The draw for the last-four will be made after the Southampton versus Liverpool match has been concluded. To reach the final the teams will firstly have to come through the two-legged semi-finals, with the first legs played in the week commencing January 4th, 2016. The decisive second legs will be played during the week commencing January 25th, 2016.
The final will be played at Wembley on February 28th, 2016.
