Man City Survive Swansea Scare to Advance in EFL Cup After Nervy 3–1 Win in Wales
Story: written by Myra October30,2025
Manchester City booked their place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals with a 3–1 comeback victory over Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium on Wednesday night, though the performance left much to be desired from Pep Guardiola’s men.
City fell behind early when Gonçalo Franco fired home a stunning long-range strike for Swansea in the 12th minute, giving the hosts a surprise lead. The Championship side continued to frustrate City for much of the first half until Jeremy Doku equalized in the 39th minute with a deflected effort inside the box.
After the break, Omar Marmoush put the visitors ahead in the 78th minute, capitalizing on some defensive confusion to slot home from close range. Substitute Rayan Cherki then sealed the result deep into stoppage time with a composed finish after linking up with Joško Gvardiol, ensuring City avoided an embarrassing cup exit.
Despite progressing, Guardiola will be far from impressed by his side’s overall display. City lacked rhythm and struggled to create clear chances without Erling Haaland, while Rodri’s absence in midfield was once again evident.
For Swansea, the defeat came with plenty of positives — they matched City for large spells and showed the kind of spirit that could fuel their push for a Championship playoff spot this season.
Man of the Match — Rayan Cherki
After a frustrating, injury-hit start to his Manchester City career, Rayan Cherki delivered his most complete performance yet. The 22-year-old Frenchman scored once, assisted another, and registered four shots, proving instrumental in City’s late surge.
Match Stats: Swansea vs. Man City
- Possession: Swansea 24% – 76% Man City
- Shots: Swansea 2 – 24 Man City
- Shots on Target: Swansea 2 – 6 Man City
- Corners: Swansea 3 – 8 Man City
- Fouls: Swansea 7 – 8 Man City
What’s Next
Manchester City return to Premier League action on Sunday, hosting Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium as they look to regain consistency in domestic competition.
Swansea will aim to bounce back when they travel to face Charlton Athletic in the Championship on Saturday, hoping to build on their encouraging cup performance.
