MANCHESTER — Manchester City relied on a controversial decision by officials and another decisive late goal from Sergio Aguero to set up an English League Cup final against Liverpool Wednesday.
City came from behind to beat Everton 3-1 in a compelling second leg and seal a 4-3 win on aggregate.
Aguero grabbed the clinching goal with a header in the 76th minute to complete City’s recovery at Etihad Stadium, but Everton was left aggrieved that City’s second goal — scored by substitute Kevin De Bruyne to level the semifinal at 3-3 — was allowed to stand. The ball appeared to be out of play when Raheem Sterling sent in a cut-back that De Bruyne steered home.
“When the ball is out of play in the modern game, you don’t expect that to be missed,” Everton manager Roberto Martinez said. “It’s hurtful and unfair.”
De Bruyne changed the game after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute, scoring within four minutes and then providing the assist for Aguero’s 16th goal of the season. However, the Belgium midfielder ended the match being carried off on a stretcher — with apparent medial ligament damage to his right knee, according to Pellegrini — after falling awkwardly in a tackle in injury time.
City will head to Wembley Stadium on Feb. 28 seeking a fourth League Cup title, most recently winning it in 2014. Liverpool beat Stoke in a penalty shootout to win the other semifinal.
Protecting a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Everton went further ahead on aggregate when Ross Barkley scored from long range in the 18th minute.
City now needed two goals to stay alive and the first came within six minutes, Fernandinho running onto the ball after a shot was deflected into his path and driving in a low shot that ricocheted off Leighton Baines and over goalkeeper Joel Robles.
After the break De Bruyne came on for Yaya Toure and leveled up the semifinal by sidefooting home the cross from Sterling. Aguero had the final say on the field, once again.
Celta dumps Atletico
Goals from Neymar and Luis Suarez helped Barcelona fight back to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 and reach the Copa del Rey semifinals Wednesday, while Celta Vigo eliminated Atletico Madrid.
Despite leading 2-1 after the first leg of their rematch of last year’s final at Camp Nou, holder Barcelona was dominated for most of the first half and trailed 1-0 on the night after Inaki Williams’ 12th-minute goal. The second half, however, was all Barcelona’s after Suarez calmed the home fans in the 53rd.
Visibly tired from their first half efforts, Bilbao wilted before Gerard Pique and Neymar made it 5-2 on aggregate with less than 10 minutes left. In Madrid, Pablo Hernandez scored twice as Celta demolished Atletico’s vaunted defense with a 3-2 victory after a scoreless first leg.
The match at Camp Nou bore no resemblance to the 6-0 thrashing Bilbao received here less than two weeks ago in the Spanish league.
Juventus beats Inter
Alvaro Morata ended a 20-match goalscoring drought with two goals as holder Juventus beat 10-man Inter Milan 3-0 in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal Wednesday.
Inter’s hopes of getting back into the match all but evaporated when Murillo was sent off in the 70th minute following a second booking for another foul on Cuadrado.
Paulo Dybala finished off the scoring six minutes from time.
PSG in League Cup final
Angel di Maria continued his fine form with another goal as Paris Saint-Germain beat Toulouse 2-0 to reach the League Cup final Wednesday. PSG did not manage a shot on target until Lavezzi’s 65th-minute goal. PSG faces Lille in the final on April 23.
