Mansion Sports – Manchester City secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025/2026 Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Despite falling behind early through a Goncalo Franco strike in the 12th minute, Pep Guardiola’s men mounted an impressive comeback with goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Cherki. 

The result marked a strong response for City after early eliminations in the previous two EFL Cup campaigns, while Swansea’s admirable run in the competition came to an end.

Guardiola rotated his squad by giving opportunities to several fringe players such as Mukasa, Marmoush, and Cherki. Despite facing the pressure of a home crowd, Manchester City managed to maintain control and sealed victory in the closing stages.

First Half

The match began cautiously as both sides sought to impose their rhythm. Swansea started confidently in front of their supporters and immediately pressed high. Their early aggression paid off in the 12th minute.

From the right flank, Josh Key outmaneuvered Rayan Ait-Nouri and delivered a short pass to Goncalo Franco, who curled a superb effort from 20 yards into the top corner beyond goalkeeper James Trafford’s reach.

Buoyed by the early lead, Swansea pushed forward with more intent. In the 32nd minute, they nearly doubled their advantage when Melker Widell capitalized on an error by Abdukodir Khusanov, but Trafford produced a fingertip save to keep City in the game.

City struggled to break through Swansea’s compact defense, with Omar Marmoush unable to make a significant impact in the opening half-hour. Their first major chance came in the 38th minute, when Rayan Cherki’s close-range shot struck the post, marking a turning point in momentum.

Just three minutes later, Jeremy Doku found the equalizer. The Belgian winger received a pass from Ait-Nouri and fired from a tight angle, with the ball deflecting off defender Cameron Burgess and deceiving goalkeeper Andy Fisher. The score was level at 1-1.

City began to dominate possession as halftime approached. Marmoush continued to trouble Swansea’s defense with his movement inside the box, but the score remained unchanged at the interval.

Second Half

Manchester City asserted total control after the break, enjoying over 80 percent of possession early in the second half. Swansea adopted a deep defensive stance, relying on counterattacks led by Adam Idah and Arbnor Inoussa.

City created several openings, but their finishing lacked precision. Doku and Marmoush tested the defense repeatedly, while Cherki’s vision began to unlock spaces in Swansea’s back line.

In the 63rd minute, Guardiola made three substitutions simultaneously, introducing Phil Foden, John Stones, and Josko Gvardiol. The changes immediately injected pace and aggression into City’s play.

Swansea defended resolutely for much of the second half, closing down every potential shooting lane. However, their resistance was finally broken in the 77th minute. Rayan Cherki threaded a clever through ball to Omar Marmoush, who unleashed a powerful strike from a tight angle that soared into the roof of the net to give City a 2-1 lead.

In the dying moments, Swansea pressed forward by introducing Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen in search of an equalizer. Yet, their attacking efforts left gaps at the back, which City exploited clinically.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Josko Gvardiol led a swift counterattack and squared the ball to Rayan Cherki, who calmly slotted home into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

The result ensured Manchester City’s progression to the last eight of the Carabao Cup, while Swansea bowed out of the competition with pride after delivering a commendable performance in front of their home supporters.

Match Statistics: Swansea City vs Manchester City