Manchester United vs. Manchester City score: John Stones and Fernandinho fire Citizens into EFL Cup final

Manchester City won 2-0 at Old Trafford to inflict a fourth straight semifinal defeat on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester City will face Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup final after second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho carried them to a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. An evenly fought first half saw both sides have goals correctly ruled out for offside by VAR whilst City's U.S. international goalkeeper Zack Steffen saved well from Bruno Fernandes. However as United tired in the second period so did their opponents impressively move through the gears, an early spell of pressure culminating in Stones flicking in Phil Foden's free kick from wide.

United rarely looked like finding parity and the tie was effectively ended in thundering fashion when Fernandinho met Aaron Wan-Bissaka's clearing header with a low drive that left Dean Henderson without a hope of keeping the ball out.

City have now reached the EFL Cup final in each of the last four seasons, winning it on every occasion, whilst United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is without a win from four semifinals. Read on for the key talking points from the game.

United's press falls short

It was a curious approach that Solskjaer's side took to their fourth semifinal of his tenure. United were both reluctant to throw their own man into the box – often Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial would look up to find only the other in support – but ready to press with real energy. Steffen was a particular target of theirs but few if any City players were able to move out of their own half without having to bear significant pressure.

It seemed a curious tactic – if any team has the technical quality to pass through opponents it is one coached by Guardiola – yet it was undoubtedly effective. In part City were weakened without anything approaching a physical presence in their frontline or even someone who feels confident with their back to goal.

Every once in a while a pass like the one Fernandinho delivered to Raheem Sterling might cut United open with an attack where the England international was convinced he was fouled in the box by Luke Shaw. But equally all it would take is one miscued pass or clearance, such as Steffen's early in the game from which an offside Rashford thought he had forced an own goal off John Stones, and Solskjaer's side would be attacking from a very advantageous position.

The challenge of attacking City with such aggression is that eventually your energy levels will be depleted, all the more so in a season that has been as grueling as this one. Had United got a goal in the first half they might have been able to sit a little deeper, hold onto that advantage and unleash their explosive forwards on the counter. Instead they found themselves in something of a no-man's land, trying to close down their man but without the same verve they showed in the first half.

There is hardly a worse approach to dealing with City, who were suddenly able to play through far more disorganized lines. The ease with which they cut through their opponent's midfield on the way to a fine Riyad Mahrez shot well saved by Henderson ought to have been alarming to Solskjaer, who kept the same increasingly exhausted side on the pitch for well over 70 minutes. United looked like what they were, a team who has played an awful lot of football of late being asked to chase around the ball for longer than they could bare.

City's defense solid as a rock

Even at the peak of their powers City were never known as an exceptional defensive force. They were very good at stopping opponents from scoring but they did so as much through the extent and quality of their possession as they did the actual art of defending. Pep Guardiola famously asked "what is tackles?" early in his tenure, now his side seemed as ready as they ever have been to hurl themselves at the ball.

Stones will inevitably steal the headlines and deservedly so, such has been the extent of his revival for City this season. After all his playing partner Ruben Dias was signed to replace the England international alongside Aymeric Laporte.

Instead Laporte, widely considered one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, is struggling to get a regular game so impressive is the Stones-Dias tandem. They compliment each other rather nicely, the Englishman more liable to push upfield whilst his team-mate is on hand in behind if an opponent finds their way though.

Above all else, when one has a problem the other is on hand to mop up, most notably early in the first half. When Rashford spun Stones in the box early in the first half Dias was on hand to block a low shot that looked to have Steffen beaten. Later on a crucial intervention from Stones denied Anthony Martial.

Even City's goal came from something akin to combination play between the two. Dias' aerial domination of proceedings dragged defenders towards him at the back post in such numbers that there was no-one to deal with Stones' dart through the middle.

Notable performances

Zack Steffen: As had been the case against Chelsea on Sunday his early moments did not exactly inspire confidence but he responded admirably with an excellent save from Bruno Fernandes in the 18th minute. RATING: 7

Fred: All too easily overrun in the second half and offering little to United's build-up play throughout the game, this was not the Brazilian's finest hour in a red shirt. RATING: 5

Joao Cancelo: The improvements he has made between year one and two in a City shirt are remarkable – he now offers everything Guardiola could need in a full-back as he combines defensive solidity with exceptional work on the front foot. RATING: 8

[Jan 6, 2021 at 4:43 pm ET · James Benge]

Four years, four EFL Cup finals for City. From the minute Stones headed home it was never in doubt, that goal seemingly sucking up the energy reserves that United had employed so assertively in the first half. That also means four defeats from four semi-finals for Solskjaer, who was at great pains to emphasise how disappointed he would be if his side lost at Old Trafford tonight. That they did, in rather too tame fashion.

[Jan 6, 2021 at 4:30 pm ET · James Benge]

A cracking way to win any tie, a powerful low drive from Fernandinho secures Manchester City's place in the EFL Cup final. There's only a few minutes to go and United don't look like they believe they can score two and take this tie to penalties.

[Jan 6, 2021 at 4:19 pm ET · James Benge]

As blatant an attempt to buy a penalty as you might ever see, Martial punting the ball through a tight gap, running at two defenders and throwing himself to the floor. City defenders fume that Martial isn't booked. They've got a point.

[Jan 6, 2021 at 4:07 pm ET · James Benge]

United's midfield certainly seems to have lost the energy to press that it once had and it's all too easy now for City to play through it, typified by a flowing move that sees Mahrez bear down on goal and curl a fine effort towards the top corner. Henderson does well to save it.

[Jan 6, 2021 at 3:54 pm ET · James Benge]

I don't think we'll be getting a flag for that one - Stones' first goal in over three years as Foden's brilliant delivery flashes behind Sterling and Mahrez but right into the path of the centre-back. The ball cannons of his thigh and into the net. City take the lead.