The EFL Cup quarterfinal field is set following the completion of three more fourth-round clashes on Wednesday. Manchester United, West Ham United and Southampton join the likes of Arsenal and Liveprool in the final eight. Results of the quarterfinal draw can be found here.
[ MORE: All of PST’s PL coverage ]
Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City
Not all Manchester derbies are created equally. If you watched all 90 minutes of Wednesday’s clash at Old Trafford, that’s undoubtedly your first takeaway.
Clear-cut scoring chances were very few and very far between, particularly in the first half. United had the better of the opening 45 minutes — by the narrowest of margins — but failed to hit paydirt. Attrition Persistence paid off not long into the second half, though, as Juan Mata finished a scrappy bit of build-up from 12 yards out. Zlatan Ibrahimovic tallied the assist on the goal, as Ander Herrera should also so for clearing out the penalty area with a strong shoulder into the back of Fernando.
.@juanmata8 breaks the deadlock after a smart turn and pull back from @Ibra_official. #beINEFLCup #MUFCvMCFC https://t.co/MACVj9PJnZ
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 26, 2016
City failed to register a single shot on target over the course of 90 minutes, as Pep Guardiola’s side slumps to six games without a victory (all competitions), alternating draws and losses through. As for Guadriola’s personal duel with Jose Mourinho, the rivals each have one victory against the other since arriving in Manchester, with Guardiola taking the first in Premier League play.
[ MORE: Tuesday’s EFL Cup roundup — Liverpool, Arsenal move on ]
West Ham United 2-1 Chelsea
Cheikhou Kouyate and Edimilson Fernandes fired Slaven Bilic’s West Ham past Antonio Conte’s Chelsea at the London Stadium, as both managers opted for a mix between first-team and reserve players. It was 2-0 until the final minute of regular time, when Gary Cahill pulled one back for Chelsea, but that’s as close as they would get.
Cheikhou Kouyate with a FANTASTIC header puts @WestHamUtd up early on @ChelseaFC. #beINEFLCup https://t.co/2XJ6QGRD3S
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 26, 2016
Second goal for @WestHamUtd as Edimilson Fernandes' low drive beats Begovic. 2-0. #beINEFLCup https://t.co/MOp7BqqXF2
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 26, 2016
The game was, once again, marred by unsavory scenes in the stands inside West Ham’s new ground, as Blues fans in the away end clashed with Hammers supproters seated closest to them.
West Ham closing in on victory. Tensions rising between home fans and those in away end. Seat ripped up and thrown into Chelsea section. pic.twitter.com/iL98XHu3us
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) October 26, 2016
Fighting now breaking out. Stewards trying to break it up. pic.twitter.com/pCg1vdLMlv
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) October 26, 2016
Southampton 1-0 Sunderland
Sofiane Boufal made his first start for Southampton since becoming the club’s new record signing this summer, and marked his full debut with a stunning goal, the only one of the game, as Saints topped Sunderland at the St. Mary’s Stadium.
