Highlights and report as Kevin De Bruyne is forced off late on
Friday 2 November 2018 06:50, UK
Brahim Diaz scored twice as Carabao Cup holders Manchester City eased into the quarter-finals after beating Fulham 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.
Diaz gave Pep Guardiola's side a first-half lead after his shot deflected in off Aleksandar Mitrovic (18).
The 19-year-old Spaniard doubled his tally when Gabriel Jesus' shot ricocheted off the post into his path, leaving him with a simple finish (65).
City will face either Leicester or Southampton in the quarter-finals, with that tie to be played on November 27 after it was re-arranged following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Guardiola's men have conceded just once in their last nine matches in all competitions - but the one sour point of the night came in the final few minutes as Kevin De Bruyne hobbled off following a challenge from Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Fulham's poor form continues, with Slavisa Jokanovic's side having now lost five straight games, and the gulf in class was visible from the first whistle despite City's 10 changes.
The lively Phil Foden forced Sergio Rico into a smart save after quarter of an hour, but the Fulham 'keeper was powerless to prevent City's opener as Diaz was fastest onto the loose ball from Vincent Kompany's knockdown and his shot diverted off the back of Mitrovic into the net.
Danilo came close to doubling City's lead when his shot hit the post from an acute angle, and Leroy Sane should've done better with his sliced effort as Fulham continued to invite pressure onto themselves through poor ball retention.
City missed a glorious chance to lead 2-0 at the break as Foden glanced De Bruyne's cross wide of Rico's far post in first-half stoppage time, before Jesus headed wide five minutes after the re-start as City's chances continued to flow.
The hosts' second duly arrived as Sane found Jesus in space inside the box. The Brazilian managed to hold off Tim Ream only for Rico to tip his shot onto the post, but Diaz was on hand to rifle his second high into the net.
Fulham only troubled after De Bruyne nobbled off after Fosu-Mensah innocuously landed on the Belgian's troublesome knee, with Mitrovic's shot from Sessegnon's cut-back deflecting wide.
Pep Guardiola: "It was another good performance. They played with a lot of discipline with and without the ball. We attacked both in and outside. We could've scored more goals but it's OK.
"[De Bruyne] is being checked with the doctors. So right now, we don't know. It's nothing, or it's something serious."
Slavisa Jokanovic: "We showed some improvement. They showed their quality and determination. We respect the competition and we made fewer mistakes but it's not easy to play against City.
"Obviously, we're not happy as we wanted to stay in the competition."
Diaz has been limited to minutes in just the Carabao Cup this season but he scored his first goals for the club in what was his 14th appearance and third start in all competitions.
Guardiola said afterwards that he wouldn't hesitate to include the 19-year-old with greater frequency in the Premier League, but this performance will have alerted clubs around Europe.
Diaz is out of contract at the end of the season, and while he was deserving of his standing ovation after two well-taken goals, the City supporters won't want to see the player leave on a free transfer if first-team opportunities continue to be limited to cup competition.
But the player himself said: "You have to be patient, and when you get the chance you have to take it. It's amazing to be playing with so many great players."
Manchester City host Southampton on Sunday back in the Premier League (kick-off: 3pm), while Fulham travel to face Huddersfield, live on Monday Night Football.
