What happened...
Manchester City kept their hopes of Premier League Cup progression alive with a 3-0 victory over Colchester United at the Academy Stadium.
An early own goal from Colchester’s Brendan Ocran and strikes from Demeaco Duhaney and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts were enough to see Simon Davies‘ side claim the three points in Group C.
City took the lead in the eighth minute as Duhaney reached the byline with a typically powerful run and dinked a cross in. It seemed easy for United defender Ocran to deal with but instead he turned it into his own net.
Other than two pieces of action for Daniel Grimshaw, City took control of the match from that point and could consider themselves unfortunate not to have scored again before the half hour mark.
Two efforts from Paolo Fernandes, the first curling just wide and the second deflecting off both posts, could easily have doubled City’s advantage.
They did, however, add a second before half-time with Denzeil Boadu’s exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass finding Duhaney, whose shot looped over Williams in the visitors’ goal.
City made it three on the hour mark as a quickly taken Brahim Diaz free-kick fooled the Colchester defence and Buckley-Ricketts swept home from 12 yards.
What it means...
Manchester City have six points from five matches in the Premier League Cup with one more match to go in the group stage.
Colchester have seven points from four matches, Hull City have six points from three and Derby County have four points from four.
City travel to Chelsea on Friday 17 February in the Premier League 2. Visit the ticket office for information on how you can support our future at upcoming home matches.
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Key moment...
Colchester had a couple of brief glimpses of City’s goal just after falling behind but soft hands and then brave acrobatics from Daniel Grimshaw maintained City’s early lead.
Man of the match...
Denzeil Boadu – The slow pace of the match and deep defensive line of Colchester gave Boadu, still continuing his return from injury, the perfect opportunity to show off his passing range.
Sitting in midfield, Boadu recycled the ball efficiently throughout and it was his defence splitting pass that set up City’s crucial second goal.
How they lined up...
Daniel Grimshaw took his place in goal.
Demeaco Duhaney played right-back while Charlie Oliver and Tosin Adarabioyo were the centre-backs and Cameron Humphreys was at left-back.
Rodney Kongolo sat behind Denzeil Boadu and Paolo Fernandes in centre midfield. Wingers Aaron Nemane and Brahim Diaz flanked Isaac Buckley-Ricketts.
