Their reward for a comprehensive win over Arsenal, their third in a row over the Gunners on this ground, was the mouth-watering prospect of a two-legged semi final against Manchester United. This tantalising prospect came about thanks to sublime strikes from Tevez and Wright-Phillips, plus a first senior goal for Vladmir Weiss, who had replaced SWP late in the game.A much-altered Arsenal side faced a City team that made two changes from the one that had begun against Hull. Barry was in for de Jong, rested after not missing a game since Arsenal's visit here in September, and Bellamy replaced Robinho, possibly still short of being able to cope with three games in a week.
The lights went out a few minutes before kick off with City stoking up the atmosphere for a packed house by projecting a blue moon onto the East Stand. There was only one song that could go with it, and it all added an extra edge to an occasion that had a lot to live up to from the last time the sides met.
Ignoring the predictable cacophony from the away end whenever he was on the ball, Adebayor had the night’s first good chance, heading a Barry corner powerfully from the near the penalty spot but straight at Fabianski.
It was Craig Bellamy’s turn to be the centre of attention as the pace quickened once we were past the 15 minute mark. First of all the Welsh striker was bundled to the ground after colliding with Song inside the box, but Chris Foy waved the penalty claims away. A couple of minutes later SWP picked Silvestre’s pocket and slipped the ball back to Bellamy, whose shot-on-the-turn slid fractionally wide of the post. It was the sort of chance he has usually buried since joining City and he could not believe he had missed.
The two Premier League heavyweights then began to trade punches, Vela sending the ball over after being hassled by an attentive Lescott, then Tevez drove a shot right at Fabianski. SWP slipped in the area after an elusive run into the box, but had he looked up Tevez and Adebayor were in great positions further over.
Vela and Eboue both had half-chances snuffed out by a combination of alert goalkeeping and defending. Bookings for Traore and Eastmond bookended Song heading inches over the bar – his own bar at the free kick for the first yellow card. Fabianski was nowhere near and it could have been embarrassing had the ball gone inches lower. There was to be no booking a few minutes later when Silvestre handled as the Blues tried to play it over the top, and then Eboue’s was ruled not to have passed it back to Fabianski.
The tempo had got quicker and quicker as the first half went on, and the break did not change matters. The goal that it had felt was coming for a while finally happened five minutes in, and it was a cracker. Bellamy hassled Rosicky into losing the ball, and after he had swiftly found Carlos Tevez it was all about the little Argentinean. He cut inside from the left, danced past three defenders and then rattled a superb shot in off the bar from the edge of the box past a stationary Fabianski.
City went for the jugular in an attempt to kill the tie off, Lescott’s well-placed header finding Bellamy’s whose excellent cut-back was poked over by Adebayor with Arsenal’s keeper steaming in at him. Silvestre hauled down his former front man to concede a free kick and to finally get a yellow card after his first half handball that could have merited one. At the other end Wilshere and Ramsey spurned chances that some of Arsenal’s absentee strikers may have made more from.
City made the visitors pay for missing half-chances with 21 minutes to, and it was another goal out of the top drawer. Shaun Wright-Phillips took the ball from Richards just inside the Arsenal half, raced past a bewildered Silvestre and then unleashed an unstoppable shot that tore past Fabianski into the top corner of the net. It was Shaun’s third goal in as many home games and looked like being enough to put City into the semis.
Chris Foy was one of the busiest men in east Manchester for the remainder of the tie, booking players from both sides almost by the minute at one stage. Alexandre Song was already heading for the tunnel after his blatant body check on Ireland, and was as surprised as anyone when he only saw yellow being flashed in his direction.
Vladimir Weiss’ first goal for City, which came with a minute to go after great work from Bellamy on the left, was the icing on the cake. The Welshman had worked tirelessly down the left and looked shattered, having taken a knock late on after tangling with Eboue, and he must have run SWP close for man of the match. Merida beat Given in stoppage time with a shot that rattled the City crossbar, but the Blues remained unbeaten and into their first semi final since 1981. The end came with celebrations all round for City, but no handshake from Arsene Wenger for his opposite number.
The news that we were drawn to play United, over two legs in early January, was greeted with a cheer by those left in the stadium a few minutes later.
Match details
Wednesday 02 December 2009, 7:45PM
City of Manchester Stadium Att: 46015
Carling Cup
Referee:
C Foy
Teams
Manchester City:
Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Ireland, Wright-Phillips (Weiss 77), Tevez (Kompany 74), Bellamy, Adebayor.
Unused subs:
Taylor, Onuoha, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Robinho.
Bookings:
Bellamy (83)
Arsenal:
Fabianski, Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Traore, Rosicky, Eastmond (Watt 68), Ramsey, Vela, Merida, Wilshere.
Unused subs:
Mannone, Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Gilbert, Randall.
Bookings:
Traore (37), Eastmond (38), Silvestre (57), Wilshere (76), Song (78), Ramsey (81)
Viadimir stepping stone-
Vladimir Weiss wants his cameo performance against Arsenal to be a stepping stone towards greater things this season for himself and the Blues.
The highly-rated Slovakian was a popular choice to replace Shaun Wright-Phillips, and he capped his brief appearance with the third goal of the win that sent City into their first semi-final since 1981.
The draw immediately after the game paired City with their rivals from across town, and the young winger is relishing the prospect of facing United over two legs.
"Every team left is a good team," says Vlad. "It does not really matter who we play but if we want to win it we have to beat everybody. It's been a long time since we have won anything, and with this team we'll try to win something. We're close now and I hope we can go all the way."
Vlad may only have seen action for City in the Carling Cup so far this season, but he is happy to make the most of what chances come along, and he adds:
"I enjoy every minute on the pitch and when I get the chance I want to impress the manager and the fans. It's the fourth time I have played for the first time, and it was nice to score at last.
"I nearly missed it! Everyone congratulated me, but we are really happy that we finally won. Winning the Youth Cup was fantastic, and hopefully that will not be the final trophy we will win in my career.
"We played really well, it was a tough game until we were 2-0 up. I was not expecting to come on, but after our second the pace of the game dropped a bit and I got my chance.
"We needed a win, and this was a perfect game for us. Arsenal are a good side and this is going to help us a lot going into the Chelsea game."
Not fair play-
The Arsenal boss disappeared down the tunnel at the end of his side’s comprehensive 3-0 defeat without the customary acknowledgment of his opposite number.
Wenger’s quickstep into the CoMs tunnel left Hughes grasping fresh air as he went to offer thanks for what was a fast paced exciting last eight encounter settled only by three superb second half goals from the Blues.
He was more stunned than angry by the gesture after a game that was in no way contentious despite six yellow cards for the visitors and eight in all.
“I was a little bit surprised that Arsene didn’t shake hands at the end of the game,” declared the Blues boss.
“I have been to the Emirates and been beaten 6-2 and I seem to recall that I shook his hand at the end. That’s what you have to be; you have to be a little bit gracious in defeat and victory.
“I like to think that I am. On this occasion Arsene wasn’t.”
United are next-
Shaun Wright-Phillips reckons the whole City team is happy to be playing United in the Carling Cup semi-finals.
But the man who scored a spectacular second goal in the 3-0 demolition of Arsenal in the last eight has warned that the two-legged battle for a Wembley berth must now be parked until nearer the time.
It is back to business with immediate effect as the Blues prepare for a seismic CoMs clash with table topping Chelsea on Saturday evening.
“The main response in the dressing room to the draw against United was that we were all happy,” declared 28-year-old Wright-Phillips who has now scored in three successive home matches.
“We don’t mind which team United put out because we are only concerned with our own performance.
“Of course it will be special to see a huge number of City fans packed into Old Trafford just as it is when CoMs is full. It means so much to the players when the supporters are behind us and I am sure they can’t wait for January to come around.
“What we have to do now is let them talk and banter about the semi-final and the derby matches and concentrate on the league. Christmas is coming and there are a lot of points to play for and we want as many of them as we can get. We have also go t an FA Cup tie before then.”
Wright-Phillips was delighted with his 18-yard screamer against the Gunners but more relieved that it hit the back of the net the aesthetics of the strike.
“The style of the goal and the way it flew in wasn’t as important as the fact that it went in because it came at a perfect time for us in the context of the game,” he reasoned.
“Everyone did their individual part against a decent Arsenal side. They are not as young as everyone seems to say certainly not in terms of experience. They have played a lot of games now.
“What the win has done has put us in the right frame of mind for the visit of Chelsea at the weekend.”
Tevez interview Video
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