Manchester City came from behind to defeat Watford 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, securing their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round thanks to first-half goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes.
City started strong, with Doku opening the scoring just five minutes into the match, and initially seemed on track for a comfortable victory. However, Watford responded with more aggression following Doku’s goal, coming close to equalizing when Kwadwo Baah was fouled in a challenge with 16-year-old debutant Kaden Braithwaite, though no penalty was awarded.
Wigan regained control and doubled their lead when Nunes scored his first goal for City with a powerful shot from distance. Watford had a missed opportunity just before halftime, as Vakoun Issouf Bayo headed wide from a decent cross.
Following the break, City continued to dominate possession, but Watford’s substitutions opened the game up. Doku was substituted for Savinho, whose attempt was cleared by Tom Ince, who later scored for Watford in the 85th minute, giving them a glimmer of hope.
Despite a late surge from Watford, City held on for the win, ensuring their progression to the next round.
Guardiola Praises Nunes’ Contribution
Regarding Nunes, manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the midfielder’s potential, stating, “He will be involved, absolutely; he’s a special player with unique qualities. He could have scored more today, and he played very well.”
Reflecting on the match, Guardiola added, “We only conceded one shot on target, which indicates how well we played. Given that we just played Arsenal two days ago, I’m satisfied with the performance.”
Cleverly Proud of Watford’s Response
Watford manager Tom Cleverley expressed pride in his squad’s effort despite the defeat: “I’m really proud of the team. It was a tough task, but we showed excellent application after our recent loss. We are difficult to beat, and it was a good reaction.”
Cleverley highlighted the challenge of facing Manchester City, stating, “You must respect their capabilities and maintain your structure. We took calculated risks, and I believe we showed well, with opportunities to potentially equalize at the end.”
As both teams prepare for their upcoming fixtures, City will look to continue their cup run, while Watford aims to regroup as they focus on their league performance.
Credit: Sky Sports
