Eight Academy players help City to League Cup win over Huddersfield

Academy youngsters Divine Mukasa, Jaden Heskey and brother Reigan all made their first team debuts as eight homegrown players featured against the League One side.

It was a dominant display by Pep Guardiola’s men with Foden’s fierce hit firing us ahead in the first half.

The Terriers worked hard to frustrate City but Savinho finally smashed home a second with 15 minutes remaining.

The game in 250 words

City completely dominated the first half with 82% possession as we strung passes around the Accu Stadium, trying to open up the home side.

Debutant Mukasa almost made his mark early on with a low close-range shot that was blocked and a header that was comfortably saved by Lee Nicholls.

And he turned provider on 18 minutes, as Foden spun smartly before exchanging passes with the teenager and rifling an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Savinho and Oscar Bobb were full of threat on either flank but the Terriers defended in numbers to cut down the amount of opportunities.

The home side began the second half with more aggression and that freed up space with Nico O’Reilly firing a low cross that was almost turned in by Mukasa before a volley was saved from the same man.

In between, O’Reilly was played through himself by Nico but Nicholls raced out quickly and got a hand to his effort as the ball was almost lifted over the keeper.

City finally got our second in the 74th minute when Savinho found a small amount of space in a congested box and beat Nicholls with an unstoppable strike from a tight angle.

That gave the opportunity to introduce new faces with Jaden and Reigen Heskey the first brothers to feature for City since the Toures although Huddersfield almost pulled a late goal back when Jay Smith-Sway hit the woodwork.

Homegrown heroes

Mukasa made his debut for the Blues in West Yorkshire at the age of just 18 years and 33 days and was soon followed by the sons of former England striker Emile Heskey, with Jaden and Reigan introduced in the second half.

It was yet another proud day for the Academy with six homegrown players starting and another four on the bench.

Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, Nico O’Reilly and James Trafford had already featured before tonight’s game and were joined in the starting line-up by Mukasa.

And there were another four players on the bench with Kaden Braithwaite, who also has first team experience already, along with Stephen Mfuni.

Nine changes

After a demanding week that saw us beat Manchester United and Napoli and then draw at Arsenal, Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to make nine changes.

And the new faces showed what they can contribute as City were on top throughout.

Savinho and Bobb dazzled on the wings while Nico and Rico Lewis controlled the game from the base of midfield.

With Erling Haaland and Rodri given a break after a punishing schedule, Pep must have been delighted at how the changes worked out.

Star man

It’s seven years ago tomorrow that Foden got his first goal in a League Cup victory away to Oxford.

He took his tally to 102 at the Accu Stadium and his desire to make a difference has not diminished.

Foden was frustrated with how things went for him last season, particularly on the back of being named the best player in the country.

But he’s started this campaign in exciting form with two goals and two assists already, and was pulling the strings in a confident performance at Huddersfield with Nico O’Reilly the only player to start our last four matches.

Teams

HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls, Sorensen (Smith-Sway 77), Wallace, Wiles, Harness (Castledine 62), Chiles, Kasumu (May 83), Feeney, Roughan, Redmond (Ashia 62), Vost.

Subs not used: Goodman, Ledson, Low, Taylor, Radulovic

CITY: Trafford, Nunes, Stones, Ake, O’Reilly (J Heskey 76), Lewis, Nico (Phillips 83), Bobb, Mukasa, Foden (Reijnders 76), Savinho (R Heskey 83).

Subs not used: Donnarumma, Dias, Bernardo, Braithwaite, Mfuni

Match highlights

Pep Guardiola reaction

“I think we played a really good performance and defensively we improved a lot.

“I know all the time from my experience that games in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, away in the Championship, League One, League Two, it’s always tricky. 

“And always we behave really good. I’m happy for John [Stones] and Nathan [Ake] who played really good and all the other guys.

“The new ones, old ones they perform in the way we try to define as the team.”

LEWIS reaction

“It’s a difficult place to come to and they’re a difficult team to break down. We kind of knew we’d have most of the ball, most of the possession and most of the chance, and it was just about taking the chances and getting the win to put us in the next round.

“We’re going to go in the [next round[ wanting to win the game and go through to the next round because it’s a trophy that we want to win.”

As a result

City have been drawn away to Championship side Swansea in the fourth round.

Up next…

We’re back in Premier League action on Saturday 27 September at 15:00 (UK).

Newly-promoted Burnley, currently 16th in the table, are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.