Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Chelsea vs Man City: Pep Guardiola's men retain Carabao Cup title after beating Blues on penalties

Re-live all the action from Wembley

Jack Watson,Harry Latham-Coyle
Sunday 24 February 2019 18:53 GMT
Comments
Man City vs Chelsea: Carabao Cup final preview

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Manchester City retained the English League Cup by beating Chelsea 4-3 on penalties after a bizarre climax to the Wembley showpiece on Sunday which saw Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refuse to be substituted.

Nothing could separate the sides as the match finished 0-0 after extra time but it was City who claimed the season's first major silverware as they won the shootout.

Raheem Sterling fired the decisive spot kick past Spaniard Arrizabalaga to complete the first part of what could be a quadruple for Pep Guardiola's side.

Arrizabalaga minutes earlier been involved in surely one of the strangest incidents in a Wembley final when he defied Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri's orders to come off in the closing minutes of extra time after appearing to be injured.

Sarri, who had told substitute keeper Willy Caballero to take over from Arrizabalaga, was left fuming in the technical area at the open show of mutiny by one of his players.

"It was a big misunderstanding because I understood the keeper had cramp and was unable to go to the penalties. But it was not cramp and he could go to the penalties," Sarri said.

To compound matters Arrizabalaga then dived over Sergio Aguero's weak penalty during the shootout.

He did save from Leroy Sane but when Chelsea's David Luiz struck the post with his spot kick, it was left to Sterling to smash his penalty high into the roof of the net and send the City fans into delirium after a tense afternoon.

Re-live the action below:

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 48 minutes

Kevin De Bruyne's cross is three inches too high for Sergio Aguero, a nudge from Cesar Azpilicueta at just the right time disrupting the Argentine's leap and preventing him making connection.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:35

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 49 minutes

Industrious work from Emerson, chasing De Bruyne all the way back and sticking his heel in to dispossess the Belgian.

It's the same flat atmosphere as in the first half, the crowd clearly not lifted by the overpriced pints and lacklustre pies consumed at half-time. In truth, it feels more Community Shield than League Cup final...

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:37

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 50 minutes

Kepa Arrizabalaga dices with danger as he mishandles a bouncing ball, just about tipping it over Sergio Aguero's outstretched leg and bringing it into his grasp.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:38

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 53 minutes

Eden Hazard bursts into space away from Vincent Kompany and is well found by Emerson, but the Belgian is touch indecisive for once and stumbles at the crucial moment, allowing Nicolas Otamendi to step in.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:41

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 55 minutes

Finally.

Noise!

The Chelsea fans get a chant going, and for the briefest moment the Manchester City supporters respond.

And, like that, its gone...

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:43

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 56 minutes

Now then.

Sergio Aguero has the ball in the back of the net.

The flag is up but VAR is checking.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:44

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 57 minutes

That is so tight. Antonio Rudiger appears to be playing Aguero onside as the ball is stabbed through to him, but VAR Martin Atkinson tells Jon Moss to stick with his decision after a minute-or-so of checking.

Without seeing all the pictures, you can't be sure, but Manchester City may feel hard done by. Aguero took the ball nicely and poked past Kepa from close range.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:45

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 59 minutes

David Luiz charges at the dead ball and tries one of his special swerving side-footed drives from 30 yards, but gets it all wrong, sending the ball sailing into row L or M five yards wide of goal.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:47

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 61 minutes

I've never had a Carabao, and I'm not fully convinced they exist. The rather garish advertising surrounding the Wembley pitch isn't making me reconsider.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:49

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 62 minutes

Eden Hazard crosses but there are only Manchester City bodies in the box, Nicolas Otamendi clearing.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:50

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in