Manashimaya
Manchester City advanced to the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win over Watford, as Matheus Nunes netted his first goal for the club. In what was his 34th appearance for the team, Nunes’ crucial strike helped Pep Guardiola’s side secure a hard-fought victory at The Etihad.
The match began brightly for City, with Jeremy Doku opening the scoring in just the fifth minute. A swift attacking move saw Jack Grealish set up Doku, who slotted the ball neatly into the back of the net. City quickly took control of the game, and it wasn’t long before Matheus Nunes secured Manchester City’s narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup with a clinical finish in the 38th minute. His low strike from just outside the penalty area gave City a commanding lead before half-time.
While City have often dominated Watford in recent years—most notably with an 8-0 drubbing in 2019—this match proved to be a more competitive affair. Watford, currently in the second tier of English football, showed resilience and refused to let the match slip away without a fight. Tom Ince gave the visitors hope with an 86th-minute curler that cut City’s lead in half, leaving City fans anxious as Watford piled on late pressure. However, despite some nervy moments, Matheus Nunes secured Manchester City’s narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup, avoiding the prospect of penalties.
Guardiola rotated his squad heavily after their intense Premier League clash with Arsenal just 48 hours earlier, even giving a first start to 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite. Yet it was Nunes who truly stole the show. The Portuguese midfielder has struggled to make a consistent impact since his £53 million transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers just over a year ago, but Matheus Nunes secured Manchester City’s narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup, marking his first start of the season with a memorable performance.
Guardiola was full of praise for Nunes after the match. “He has special qualities few players have,” the City boss said. “Space in transitions is unbelievable. Pleased for him and the goal. Still, he has things to read, and it’s not easy to adapt. Really pleased for him, he’s a lovely guy, and lovely guys always deserve good things.”
The match also saw Watford have a goal disallowed in the first half when Kwadwo Baah was penalised for a foul on Braithwaite before slotting past City keeper Stefan Ortega. However, they refused to capitulate and earned their late reward with Ince’s strike, though it ultimately wasn’t enough to prevent Matheus Nunes securing Manchester City’s narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup.
As City look ahead to the fourth round, this performance will offer Guardiola confidence in his squad depth. Matheus Nunes’ standout contribution showed that he is ready to make an impact on the big stage, and his goal will have done wonders for his confidence. As City chase yet another League Cup title, Matheus Nunes secured Manchester City’s narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the League Cup, proving his worth to the team.
