Chelsea vs Man City: Pep Guardiola's men retain Carabao Cup title after beating Blues on penalties
Re-live all the action from Wembley
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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.
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Ah - the pomp and circumstance of a cup final.
A pleasant rendition of the national anthem.
There's a red carpet in front of the two lineups, for reason which are not fully apparent.
Jon Moss is the referee this afternoon.
The players exchange handshakes, hugs, whatever other methods of greeting are en vogue.
Maurizio Sarri in his trademark tracksuit, Pep Guardiola with a stylish grey crewneck and white t-shirt combination. Both look pensive as the players assemble for kick-off.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 1 minute
Action right from the off.
Sergio Aguero collapses immediately as he looks to chase down Ross Barkley's pass back from the centre circle, a raised arm from Jorginho catching him.
The midfielder escapes further punishment, but it will be a Manchester City free kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 2 minutes
Manchester City build from there to win a corner, but Chelsea win the header and Jorginho sweeps the ball away.
Ederson mishits a clearance to Eden Hazard (playing centrally as anticipated) but the Belgian is unable to control the firmly struck lawn-trimmer, and Manchester City regain possession.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 3 minutes
Manchester City press Chelsea back early on.
Chelsea's high press caused such problems for Maurizio Sarri's side defensively two weeks ago, another appears to be more reticence in that regard on this occasion. Willian and Pedro are essentially forming a five, tucking in somewhat alongside the midfield three.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 4 minutes
Kevin De Bruyne is ubnable to retrieve an overhit pass as Manchester City look to move down the right.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 5 minutes
But Manchester City come down that channel again, this time Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero on the same page to effectively progress.
Aguero appeals for a penalty as his cross strikes a Chelsea defender but Jon Moss waves the appeal away, and Martin Atkinson, today's VAR operator, rules it doesn't warrant checking.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 7 minutes
Definitely a more withheld approach from Chelsea when Manchester City are in possession, smart given how their commitment to the press backfired at the Etihad.
Pedro and Cesar Azplicueta team up to prevent Raheem Sterling making progress down the left.
Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 8 minutes
Chelsea will run into problems with this method, though, particularly when they win the ball back.
N'Golo Kante is operating as the forward-most Chelsea player not named Eden Hazard and is desperately short of options as a loose Manchester City pass comes his way.
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