A second-half blitz saw the trophy-holders score four goals in the space of 12 minutes before adding a further three in the time that remained – with Frank Lampard scoring twice and making another two.
Not that anyone could have predicted such a score-line as the teams traipsed off level at the break proving the old adage that football really is a funny old game and if ever there was a game of two halves, this was surely it.
It could be argued that City and a handful of other top clubs have breathed new life back into the League Cup (as once was) over the past few years.
Big crowds, near-full strength teams and respect have made what had become the poor relation of the domestic competitions once again highly desirable.
And it was clear from the starting line-up that Manuel Pellegrini wants to retain the trophy won against Sunderland earlier this year.
Injuries dictated there were a number of changes from the side that drew Chelsea on Sunday with David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri all absent through injury, Pablo Zabaleta was suspended and
The visitors, in contrast, rested several of their regular starters with manager Stuart Gray perhaps thinking a heavy defeat for a team beaten just once so far this season would disrupt momentum – and he may have had a point given what lay in store
...Match report..
Try telling that to the 6,000 travelling fans, though – they’d travelled in their numbers to see their side give it a good go and for the first 45 minutes, that’s exactly what they got as City were reduced to just one real scoring opportunity on 19 minutes when Eliaquim Mangala thundered the post with a close range volley.
The Owls, like Stoke and Chelsea before them, packed their defence whenever the Blues attacked and as long as City continue to struggle against such stifling tactics, opposition managers will continue to employ them.
The champions just seem to be lacking a bit of inventiveness and guile when they come across a parked bus, though in fairness it’s not easy for any side, no matter how many stellar talents are contained within, to find their way through a sea of bodies hell-bent on keeping a clean sheet.
Unless, that is, there is a shift in tactics. It wasn’t clear exactly what City were doing differently in the opening moments of the second period, but within 15 minutes the Capital One Cup holders had raced into a four-goal lead!
...Match report...
The all-important opening goal came just two minutes after the re-start as James Milner found Lampard in the six-yard box and the England midfielder finished with a low drive to prove he’s lost none of his goal-scoring instincts.
Four minutes after that and a Yaya Toure tucked the penalty away with aplomb as like Dzeko, he celebrated his first of the campaign.
The impressive Milner then jinked past two challenged before hitting the foot of the post as the Blues mercilessly tore apart the Championship side at will and considering the relative lack of goals the champions had managed so far, it was something of a relief to the majority of the 32,000-plus crowd.
City didn’t declare at four, either, with Aleks Kolarov’s perfect left-flank cross sweetly headed home by Dzeko on 77 minutes and the torture still wasn’t over as debutant JoseAngel Pozo made it six two minutes from the end of normal time and Lampard capped superb display by sliding home the seventh in stoppage time
...City 7 Owls 0...
Finally, it was over for Gray’s team, who, for at least one half, gave their excellent travelling support plenty to cheer about, while City will be already thinking about a quick return to Wembley - though Newcastle United may have something to say about that.
