Football News: Southampton stun Manchester City to advance to semi-finals of EFL Cup

Southampton defeated Manchester City 2-0 to advance to the EFL Cup semifinals at the cost of the current champions. The Saints took the lead in the game's 23rd minute thanks to Sekou Mara.

Moreover, the hosts added a second goal five minutes later through Moussa Djenepo. Despite losing their past six Premier League games, Southampton have produced some stunning results.

The Saints defeated Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday and has since gone to the EFL Cup semifinals. Nathan Jones is having his greatest performance at the club since taking over as head coach in November.

Man City has dominated this competition in recent years, winning the trophy six times since 2014. However, their surprise run in the League Cup this season has now come to an end.

Ilkay Gundogan received a pass from Cole Palmer in the sixth minute as the visitors had their first genuine opportunity of the game, but the midfielder missed the post with his shot.

Then Duje Caleta-Car of Southampton came close, trying to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but was stopped by a deft save from Stefan Ortega.

In the 21st minute, with the visitors still having trouble getting into their stride, Mara was the next to try his luck for the home team. He turned and blasted wide of the Man City goal.

In the 23rd minute of play, Southampton took the lead when Mara skillfully finished off a brilliant move following superb work from Lyanco, who had read a wayward ball before driving down the right and delivering a low cross.

In the 28th minute, Djenepo advanced toward the Man City box and scored with a superb finish to give the home team a two-goal advantage. However, there will be concerns about Ortega's goaltending because he was off his line.

Man City did not respond as anticipated in the first half, and the Citizens were unable to register a shot on goal within the first 45 minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne, who joined Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji on the field as halftime substitutes, found Julian Alvarez who fired a shot just wide of the far post early in the second half.

After the restart, Southampton's first half-chance fell to Adam Armstrong, who advanced to the outside of the box before shooting wide of the near post.

Just before the hour, Jack Grealish was replaced by Erling Braut Haaland, but Southampton continued to appear the most probable, with Kyle Walker-Peters swinging a shot wide of the post in the 65th minute.

Twenty minutes from the end, Haaland sent one over the crossbar. Then, Che Adams put the ball in the Southampton goal, but the offside flag saved Man City.

In the 78th minute, Gavin Bazunu stopped a close-range shot from Alvarez despite the Argentina international being at full stretch.

Man City, however, was unable to respond as Southampton easily advanced to the final four with a victory of two goals at St Mary's.

Man City's next Premier League match is on Saturday against an in-form Manchester United, while Southampton travels to a struggling Everton in the same afternoon.

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