EFL Cup: Marmoush, Cherki strike late as City overcome Swansea scare

Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki struck late goals as Manchester City came from behind to win at Swansea City and book a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Goncalo Franco’s memorable goal had given the Championship side an early lead but Jeremy Doku’s deflected effort brought Pep Guardiola’s team level before the break.

Manchester City, eight-time winners of this competition, dominated after the break and eventually broke Swansea’s resistance when Marmoush lashed home after Cherki’s through-ball 13 minutes from time.

Cherki then sealed victory in added time as his low shot rolled into the bottom corner.

Swansea, who are 13th in the Championship, were dreaming of an upset after their sharp start troubled their heavyweight opponents.

Melker Widell, one of six Swansea changes, spread the ball wide to Josh Key and he squared for Franco, whose glorious 20-yard strike arced into the top corner.

Abdukodir Khusanov’s poor pass then presented Widell with a chance to double the lead, but the Swede’s low shot was touched wide of the post by James Trafford.

With Guardiola’s decision to make 10 changes threatening to backfire, the eight-time competition winners eventually found some momentum.

Cherki was denied an equaliser as he poked against the post but, with Swansea creaking, Doku turned sharply inside Key and his low shot ricocheted into the net off Cameron Burgess.

From that point Manchester City took control, though clear-cut chances were at a premium until Marmoush smashed a first club goal of the season and Cherki’s precise finish put the result beyond doubt.

For only the second time this season, there was no Erling Haaland for Manchester City as Guardiola made wholesale changes, just as he had done in the third-round win at Huddersfield.

For a while, his side were troubled defensively and struggled to break their hosts down, but dominated territory and possession for the final hour of the contest.

But there was always the sense they would get there in the end, and ultimately the Premier League giants’ class was too much for Swansea as Alan Sheehan’s team ran out of energy.

Having been beaten for the first time in 10 games at Aston Villa on Sunday, this was the response Manchester City required as they look to ahead to a challenging run of top-flight fixtures.

They can also look forward to a last-eight appearance in this competition for only the second time since 2021 when they won the Carabao Cup for the fourth successive time.

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