Manchester City boosted their chances of retaining their EFL (Carabao Cup) title on Wednesday by trouncing League One side, Burton Albion 9-0 in a one-sided first leg semi-final of the competition with Gabriel Jesus as the ‘tormentor-in-chief’, reports Completesport.com.
Gabriel Jesus scored a double brace coupled with strikes from Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Zinchenko, Riyad Mahrez, and Kyle Walker handed Pep Guardiola’s side a big first leg lead at the Etihad ahead of the second leg in a fortnight at the Pirelli stadium.
The win was Guardiola’s joint-largest margin of victory as a manager, alongside Barcelona’s 9-0 thrashing of L’Hospitalet during a Copa del Rey match in December 2011.
De Bruyne gave Manchester City the lead after five minutesgetting between two Burton defenders to head David Silva’s deep delivery out of Collins’ reach into the bottom corner from eight yards.
The goal was De Bruyne’s ninth goal in 13 EFL appearances and he has assisted four more for Manchester City.
His opener was also his first headed goal in English football.
Jesus doubled Manchester City’s lead with a simple header from close range in the 30th minute.
The Brazilian made it 3-0 four minutes later tapping in David Silva’s cut-back pass.
Zinchenko’s intended cross towards Jesus looped over Collins in goal for Burton to make it 4-0 for the Citizens.
Jesus completed his hat-trick for Manchester City’s first real attack of the second half when he finished off a brilliant team play involving Mahrez and David Silva in the 57th minute.
He bagged his fourth in the 67th minute and City’s seventh turning home from five yards Leroy Sane’s cross.
Walker, Mahrez and Foden completed the rout in the second half.
