Manchester City beat spirited Oxford United to make Carabao Cup semi-final

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates

Manchester City made it through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals despite a spirited display by League One Oxford United.

Pep Guardiola’s men beat their hosts 3-1 in bitterly cold and windy conditions to join Aston Villa, Leicester City and Manchester United for the semi-final draw.

Raheem Sterling and Alex Rodriguez

A Joao Cancelo goal, plus two from Raheem Sterling, were enough to see off Oxford, but Matty Taylor’s strike that levelled the game at 1-1 epitomised the home side’s effort throughout the match.

Joao Cancelo scores his team's first goal

Guardiola made eight changes for the game. Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Rodri the only others to retain their place in the starting XI from the win over Arsenal at the weekend.

Oxford United, meanwhile, made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 to MK Dons in their League One.

In awful conditions at the Kassam Stadium the home side matched their illustrious opponents and acquitted themselves admirably.

When City broke forward they tracked them every way, blocking shots and cutting out crosses at every opportunity when Mahrez played it across the six-yard box, Oxford skipper Rob Dickie cleared it just above his own bar.