Man city and Liverpool are chasing the first trophy of the season in England as both lock horns in the Capital one cup final at Wembley. While Mancity coach Manuel Pellegrini is hoping to get his first trophy before his departure at the end of the season, Liverpool’s coach Jurgen Klopp hopes to secure his first trophy after joining the club last year.
Pep Guardiola will have at least one trophy to defend when he takes over at Manchester City next season. His soon to be new charges beat Liverpool in a penalty shootout at Wembley to win the English League Cup, the first silverware on offer in the current campaign.
Willy Caballero saves a penalty from Adam Lallana of Liverpool as his side won the shootout 3-1 to win the final. The match had finished tied at 1-1 after extra time.
ManCity's second choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero repaid the faith placed in him by current manager Manuel Pellegrini with a stunning hat-trick of saves in the penalty finale. It left the way for Yaya Toure to clinch it 3-1 with the decisive penalty, sparking scenes of celebration among the ManCity players and supporters.
A goal early in the second half from Fernadinho after a dreadful blunder by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet put ManCity ahead before Philippe Coutinho leveled in the 83rd minute with a crisp low shot, his side's first shot on target of the final.
Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho celebrates after putting his side ahead in the English League Cup final against Liverpool.
Philippe Coutinho celebrates with Jordan Henderson in pursuit after equalizing for Liverpool against Manchester City at Wembley. Before that, Raheem Sterling wasted two chances to put the game out of Liverpool's reach and Sergio Aguero was upended by Alberto Moreno with strong penalty claims waved away.
Mignolet, who had performed heroics in the fist half when turning away an Aguero shot onto the post, atoned for failing to keep out Fernandinho's shot-cum-cross from an angle with crucial saves to deny Toure in the closing moments and Aguero in the first half of extra time.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet tips away Sergio Aguero's first half shot onto the post. Argentina's Caballero, who has endured a difficult time since following Pellegrini from Malaga, also showed his worth by saving from Divock Origi's header.
PENALTY DRAMA
It left the two sides to battle it out from the penalty spot, with Liverpool taking an early lead as Fernandinho's effort hit the post. But it swiftly turned around as Caballero kept out efforts from Lucas, Coutinho and Adam Lallana, ending the match in tears as he was mobbed by teammates.
"It's a huge moment for me and my family," he told Sky Sports.
It was Manchester City's second League Cup triumph in three years and could act as a springboard as it did in the season before last for a successful challenge for the English Premier League title. With a game in hand it trails leader Leicester by nine points and is also heading for the quarterfinals of the Champions League after an excellent 3-1 last 16, first leg win at Dynamo Kiev in midweek.
For Liverpool, it was a bitter disappointment in Jurgen Klopp's first season in charge, with only the Europa League, where it plays Manchester United in the last 16, offering any hope of silverware. The two sides will also meet again in midweek in an English Premier League match, with City hoping to cut the gap at the top.
Source
CNN
No comments