In a night filled with drama and unexpected twists, Manchester City survived a genuine scare from Championship side Swansea City to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Doku Delivers When It Matters
Jérémy Doku emerged as the hero for the Premier League giants, delivering a performance that showcased exactly why Pep Guardiola values him so highly. The Belgian winger was simply electrifying, scoring one goal and creating another in a man-of-the-match display that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
Swansea's Brave Fightback
Despite being heavy underdogs, Swansea refused to be intimidated by their illustrious opponents. The Championship side fought back not once, but twice, leveling the score at 1-1 and then again at 2-2, sending shockwaves through the Swansea.com Stadium and putting City's cup ambitions in genuine jeopardy.
Ronnie Stutter, Swansea's teenage sensation, announced himself on the big stage with a well-taken goal that brought the Welsh side level for the second time, setting up a tense final quarter-hour that had City fans sweating.
Guardiola's Relief as Quality Prevails
While Pep Guardiola will be concerned about his team's defensive vulnerabilities, the City manager can take solace in the individual quality that ultimately saw them through. Beyond Doku's brilliance, Micah Hamilton continued his impressive development with another goal, while substitute James McAtee came off the bench to score what proved to be the winner against his former loan club.
The victory keeps Manchester City's quest for multiple trophies firmly on track, though this performance served as a stark reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly in cup competition.
