Man City Survive Swansea Scare as Marmoush’s Late Goal Seals 3-1 Carabao Cup Win

It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. Manchester City scraped through to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals Swansea.com Stadium on Wednesday night, October 29, 2025, with a 3-1 win over Swansea City — a result that felt far more stressful than the scoreline suggests. The visitors, resting stars like Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, were held at bay for 77 minutes by a determined Swansea City side fighting for pride in the EFL Championship. Then came Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian forward, whose season had been derailed by injuries, smashed home the winner, sparing Pep Guardiola the humiliation of an upset. And just when it looked like the tie might slip into penalties, Rayan Cherki sealed it in stoppage time. The crowd of 20,490 in Swansea, Wales, rose as one — then fell silent. This wasn’t dominance. It was survival.

Swansea’s Dream Start Shocks the Giants

It began with a moment of magic. In the 12th minute, Gonçalo Franco, Swansea’s Portuguese winger, curled a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that clipped the post and bounced in. Sky Sports called it "one in off the post," but YouTube highlights labeled it "the goal of the night." The Swansea.com Stadium erupted. For a team sitting mid-table in the second tier, this was more than a goal — it was validation. Manchester City, missing Haaland, Dias, and Silva, looked disjointed. Their passing was sloppy. Their movement predictable. And for 65 minutes, Swansea City stood firm, their captain Cameron Burgess marshaling a backline that refused to buckle.

Deflection, Delay, and Desperation

The equalizer came not through brilliance, but chaos. In the 39th minute, Jeremy Doku drove into the box, fired low — and the ball took a cruel deflection off Burgess’s outstretched arm. The goal stood. Burgess, visibly distraught, immediately apologized to his teammates. "It’s not the way you want to concede," he told BBC Sport afterward. "But credit to them — they kept coming." Manchester City dominated possession (68%), created 17 shot attempts, and had 11 corners — yet only two found the net. Andy Fisher, Swansea’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, made three miraculous saves, including a fingertip stop on Rico Lewis’ deflected strike in the 68th minute. "He was our hero," said Swansea manager Steve Cooper. "We were 13 minutes from penalties. That’s not failure. That’s fight."

Marmoush Breaks the Spell — and the Silence

The turning point arrived in the 77th minute. After a series of failed efforts — including a goal-line clearance by Kaelan Casey — Omar Marmoush received a pass from Josko Gvardiol just outside the box. He didn’t hesitate. A thunderous right-footed strike, low and hard, flew past Fisher’s dive and nestled into the bottom corner. It was his first goal since August. The bench exploded. Guardiola, arms crossed, finally allowed himself a small nod. "He’s been waiting for this," Guardiola said post-match. "He’s got the mentality. He didn’t flinch when others might have.

Cherki’s Clincher and the Weight of Expectation

As the clock ticked past 90, Rayan Cherki, the 19-year-old French prodigy, received the ball from Gvardiol near the left flank. He cut inside, feinted past two defenders, and unleashed a left-footed curler that kissed the far post before nestling into the net. 93rd minute. Game over. The City bench emptied. The Swansea fans, though disappointed, gave a standing ovation. "They didn’t break," said Cherki. "We had to break them."

What This Means for Both Sides

For Manchester City, this was a warning shot. Without Haaland, their attack lacked a focal point. They created chances but couldn’t finish. Guardiola’s rotation strategy — resting Dias, Silva, and Reijnders — made sense for squad management, but exposed a worrying lack of depth in the final third. They’ve won the Carabao Cup eight times — more than any other club — but this performance suggested their grip on the trophy is loosening. For Swansea City, this was a moral victory. They’ve won the competition once (2012-13), and this performance proved they still have the grit to challenge top-flight giants. Adam Idah, starting in place of injured top scorer Zan Vipotnik, worked tirelessly. Their defense, led by Burgess and Casey, held firm longer than anyone expected. "We showed we belong," said Cooper. "Now we go back to the Championship and fight for promotion."

What’s Next?

The draw for the Carabao Cup quarterfinals takes place Friday, October 31, 2025, at 1:00pm GMT at the Sky Sports studios in London. Manchester City will face one of four potential opponents: Liverpool, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, or Brentford. The quarterfinals are scheduled for the week commencing December 1, 2025. For Swansea, the focus shifts immediately to their next Championship fixture against Hull City on Saturday. They’ll take confidence from this performance — but know the road ahead is long.

Behind the Numbers

- Manchester City: 68% possession, 17 shots, 11 corners, 2 goals - Swansea City: 32% possession, 5 shots, 2 corners, 1 goal - Andy Fisher: 3 saves, 1 clean sheet for 77 minutes - Omar Marmoush: First goal since August 15, 2025 - Jeremy Doku: 2 goals this season — both in cup competitions - Attendance: 20,490 at Swansea.com Stadium (97% capacity)