Manchester City 2-1 Watford: Nunes Scores First Goal as City Advance in Carabao Cup

In an exciting third-round matchup of the 2024-25 Carabao Cup, Manchester City secured a 2-1 victory over Championship side Watford at the Etihad Stadium. Matheus Nunes scored his first goal for City, helping Pep Guardiola's side advance to the fourth round of the competition.

Early City Dominance

City wasted no time in taking control of the game, with Jérémy Doku finding the back of the net just five minutes into the match. The Belgian winger, known for his speed and dribbling, made a quick impact by calmly slotting in the opener to give City the early lead.

Watford, a side that has endured heavy defeats to City in the Premier League in recent seasons, tried to stay resilient but struggled to cope with the pressure from the reigning Premier League champions.

Nunes Opens His Account

In the 38th minute, Matheus Nunes scored his much-anticipated first goal for City in what was his 34th appearance. The Portuguese midfielder, signed in the summer, showed his composure with a clinical finish to put City firmly in the driving seat at 2-0. This goal helped ease the pressure on Nunes, who had been searching for his debut strike for some time.

Watford Fight Back

Despite trailing, Watford refused to back down and put up a fight late in the game. In the 86th minute, Tom Ince curled in a beautiful goal, giving Watford a glimmer of hope with just minutes remaining. The visitors applied some late pressure, but City managed to hold firm and avoid a penalty shootout, securing their spot in the next round.

Chelsea's Dominant Display

In other Carabao Cup action, Chelsea cruised to a 5-0 victory against fourth-tier Barrow, with Christopher Nkunku netting a hat-trick. The dominant performance at Stamford Bridge saw Enzo Maresca's team ease into the fourth round as well.

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Key Match Stats:

Goals: Jérémy Doku (5'), Matheus Nunes (38'), Tom Ince (86')

Possession: Manchester City 67%, Watford 33%

Shots on Target: Manchester City 7, Watford 3

With this victory, Manchester City, eight-time winners of the League Cup, continue their pursuit of another piece of silverware, while Watford will focus on their Championship campaign.