Manchester City edge past Leicester on penalties to reach Carabao Cup semi-final

Leicester 1-1 Manchester City (City win 3-1 on penalties) Kevin De Bruyne's strike was leveled by Marc Albrighton's effort, but Oleksandr Zinchenko had the final say in a penalty shoot-out that featured four failed attempts

Holders Manchester City kept their quadruple bid going by beating Leicester City on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric was the hero for the five-times winners after saving from James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu in the shootout.

City, who beat Leicester at the same stage of the competition on penalties a year ago almost to the day, trumphed 3-1 in the shootout after the tie ended 1-1 when Marc Albrighton cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne's opener.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's successful conversion made it 3-1 on penalties after Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus also scored for the visitors in the shootout, while substitute Raheem Sterling chipped over the bar.

Harry Maguire was the lone penalty scorer for Leicester, and Christian Fuchs put his spot kick over.

For Leicester it was a missed opportunity, having exited a competition they stated they wanted to win in honour of their late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash in October.

Riyad Mahrez was applauded from all sides of the King Power on his first competitive return to Leicester since his £60m move to Manchester City.

Mahrez was one of only three players who kept their places in Pep Guardiola's team from their 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday, with right back Kyle Walker and centre half Nicolas Otamendi.

The visitors lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation with centre back John Stones in a defensive midfield role

Arijanet Muric was the unlikely hero for Manchester City (Getty)

Leicester made seven changes from Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, but there was still no place in the 18 for £25m midfielder Andre Silva.

Manchester City took the lead in the 14th minute with the first serious attack of the game.

De Bruyne took a short pass from Brahim Diaz and, from the corner of the 18-yard box, produced some slick footwork to bamboozle Hamza Choudhury before burying a fierce, low drive inside the near post. It was the Belgian's second goal in three Carabao Cup ties.

Mahrez went close to doubling their lead four minutes later. Picked out by Diaz, he got to the cross ahead of Christian Fuchs but could only hook the ball over from the edge of the six-yard box.

Leicester were continually forced back in the early stages and it was the 21st minute before they broke with purpose.

When they finally did, Demarai Gray tested Muric with a low curling effort after cutting inside that was tipped wide after a deflection.

Manchester City signalled their intentions to seal the tie within two minutes of the restart.

Mahrez's through pass beat the offside trap to send Sergio Aguero racing clear, but the latter's shot was pushed aside by keeper Danny Ward.

Marc Albrighton put Leicester on level terms 15 minutes before the end (Getty)

Nine minutes after the break, Leicester boss Claude Puel brought on Maddison for Rachid Ghezzal to provide a fresh spark.

But although they increased their share of the possession, they struggled to break down a resilient City side who remained seemingly in total control.

Only a vital block by Soyuncu from Diaz's curling shot prevented a second City goal after a delightful touch by Aguero sent De Bruyne charging through the middle.

Leicester created a rare chance in the 66th minute when captain Maguire's header was held by Muric.

Mahrez was a whisker away from a fairytale return in the 67th minute. His curling shot sailed fractionally wide after another incisive move, this time involving Aguero, substitute Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.

Leicester equalised out of the blue with a superbly-taken goal from Albrighton in the 73rd minute. The winger took a pass over the top from Ndidi and volleyed home, giving Muric no chance in the City goal.

The goal gave Leicester fresh impetus and ensured a tense finish.

But Manchester City almost snatched it when a cross from Mahrez rolled all the way across the face of goal just waiting for the final touch with four players screaming for the pass.

The game had opened up with both teams going for the winner, and with seven minutes left, Foden slid the ball wide after Jesus put him through.