Manchester City were crowned Carabao Cup champions for a third consecutive year in a row after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in a great final. Sergio Aguero and Rodri scored the two goals for City and, although Mbwana Samatta did pull one back for Villa, that was enough to win.
Chances were going to be few and far between for Aston Villa, so when they got them they needed to take them. Anwar El Ghazi had a good opportunity but his header was over the bar. Watford, in last season's FA Cup final, had a chance to open the scoring against Manchester City through Roberto Pereyra but missed and City won 6-0. There was every probability that may occur again.
Aguero for City, like El Ghazi, missed early on but City were quickly settling into their rhythm. They dominated possession and were always comfortable on the ball. The switch from Oleksandr Zinchenko to Phil Foden or Kyle Walker was on every time as Villa were being stretched across the backline. The first goal would come from a switch of play from left to right. Rodri played a delicate pass across to Foden whose headed pass was finished by Aguero, with a deflection off Tyrone Mings taking it pass Orjan Nyland in goal.
Villa were sitting very deep and allowed City to pass the ball freely. El Ghazi shot straight at Claudio Bravo but everything City did when attacking was dangerous. Bjorn Engels flung himself desperately in the way of another Aguero effort but the pressure would finally be too much again, albeit in controversy. City were awarded a corner as the linesman despite footage showing the ball came off Ilkay Gundogan not Jack Grealish. Villa were clearly pre-occupied with their apparent injustice as they forgot to defend the corner, with Rodri running with no attempt to mark him to head home a second.
A repeat of the FA Cup final seemed to be where this final was heading but Aston Villa were not going to succumb like Watford did. A forward ball was hopelessly defended by John Stones, as his legs gave way, so El Ghazi ran on and cross to Samatta to score a powerful header past Bravo. Half time came and Aston Villa were still in the game and a chance of winning the trophy.
The second half was more of the same with City keeping the ball and trying to add a third. Foden was always in space and his shot just after the break was close to going in the goal. Tempers began to fray a little as both sides wanted to win, with Frederic Guilbert and Sterling clashing - the latter picking up a yellow for a robust challenge. Villa were holding on by the skin of their teeth as Mings prevented Aguero from scoring an easy tap in with a third looking more likely than an equaliser.
Grealish failed to have the impact on the game many hoped he would have, with a poor delivery from a promising free kick position summing up his afternoon. Dean Smith had to start committing more players forward which created more space in the middle for City to exploit. Rodri forced a save from Nyland after Marvelous Nakamba escaped with a yellow for a strong tackle on Aguero, who sent some City fans cheering with delight as his shot hit the side netting late on which fooled a section of their supporters.
Aston Villa had to throw the kitchen sink at City and with 88 minutes on the clock, they so nearly drew level. From a corner, Engels' header was pushed on to the post expertly by Bravo. The Chilean didn't have a lot to do throughout the 90 minutes but when he was called upon, he answered. Time ran out and City were crowned champions once again.
Chances were going to be few and far between for Aston Villa, so when they got them they needed to take them. Anwar El Ghazi had a good opportunity but his header was over the bar. Watford, in last season's FA Cup final, had a chance to open the scoring against Manchester City through Roberto Pereyra but missed and City won 6-0. There was every probability that may occur again.
Aguero for City, like El Ghazi, missed early on but City were quickly settling into their rhythm. They dominated possession and were always comfortable on the ball. The switch from Oleksandr Zinchenko to Phil Foden or Kyle Walker was on every time as Villa were being stretched across the backline. The first goal would come from a switch of play from left to right. Rodri played a delicate pass across to Foden whose headed pass was finished by Aguero, with a deflection off Tyrone Mings taking it pass Orjan Nyland in goal.
Villa were sitting very deep and allowed City to pass the ball freely. El Ghazi shot straight at Claudio Bravo but everything City did when attacking was dangerous. Bjorn Engels flung himself desperately in the way of another Aguero effort but the pressure would finally be too much again, albeit in controversy. City were awarded a corner as the linesman despite footage showing the ball came off Ilkay Gundogan not Jack Grealish. Villa were clearly pre-occupied with their apparent injustice as they forgot to defend the corner, with Rodri running with no attempt to mark him to head home a second.
A repeat of the FA Cup final seemed to be where this final was heading but Aston Villa were not going to succumb like Watford did. A forward ball was hopelessly defended by John Stones, as his legs gave way, so El Ghazi ran on and cross to Samatta to score a powerful header past Bravo. Half time came and Aston Villa were still in the game and a chance of winning the trophy.
The second half was more of the same with City keeping the ball and trying to add a third. Foden was always in space and his shot just after the break was close to going in the goal. Tempers began to fray a little as both sides wanted to win, with Frederic Guilbert and Sterling clashing - the latter picking up a yellow for a robust challenge. Villa were holding on by the skin of their teeth as Mings prevented Aguero from scoring an easy tap in with a third looking more likely than an equaliser.
Grealish failed to have the impact on the game many hoped he would have, with a poor delivery from a promising free kick position summing up his afternoon. Dean Smith had to start committing more players forward which created more space in the middle for City to exploit. Rodri forced a save from Nyland after Marvelous Nakamba escaped with a yellow for a strong tackle on Aguero, who sent some City fans cheering with delight as his shot hit the side netting late on which fooled a section of their supporters.
Aston Villa had to throw the kitchen sink at City and with 88 minutes on the clock, they so nearly drew level. From a corner, Engels' header was pushed on to the post expertly by Bravo. The Chilean didn't have a lot to do throughout the 90 minutes but when he was called upon, he answered. Time ran out and City were crowned champions once again.
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