Manchester City continue bid for fifth consecutive Carabao Cup in 6-1 win over Wycombe

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City survived a brief scare against League One Wycombe to win 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium and continue their bid for a record fifth consecutive Carabao Cup victory.

Wycombe took the lead in the first half before Pep Guardiola's team hit back thanks to two goals from Riyad Mahrez and one each for Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Ferran Torres and Cole Palmer.

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Facing three away games against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in the space of nine days, City fielded a team of experienced forwards alongside a back four each aged 18 and all making their senior debuts.

Despite De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez and Raheem Sterling all starting, Wycombe, captained by 39-year-old striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, went ahead after 22 minutes despite having had just 17% possession up until that point.

A scramble in the City penalty area ended with Jason McCarthy rolling a pass across goal for Brandon Hanlan to tap into an empty net and sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans behind the goal.

The lead lasted just five minutes.

Foden, City's best player in the first half, slipped in De Bruyne to equalise, while Sterling and Mahrez both hit the post.

It looked like Wycombe, fifth in League One, might hold on until half-time only for Mahrez and then Foden to score two quick goals in the final three minutes of the first half.

Foden set up City's fourth with a cross for Torres after 71 minutes before Mahrez got his second of the night on 83 minutes.

Substitute Palmer, 19, scored his first senior goal two minutes from time as City cruised into the fourth round and kept their hopes alive of eclipsing Liverpool's fourth straight League Cup triumphs in the 1980s.