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 13:53 EST
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, 43 minutes

Nearly...

Oleksandr Zinchenko magnificently slices a half-volley with his left boot, controlling it to arc on a diagonal towards Nicolas Otamendi stealing beyond Emerson.

Otamendi slides to meet the low ball and tries to sweep the ball back across goal to a brace of teammates waiting to tap in, but can't generate the power on the ball to do so and Kepa Arrizabalaga collects.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:14

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 44 minutes

Pace and power from Eden Hazard, first out-stripping and then out-muscling Aymeric Laporte.

The support is a little slow to support the Belgian, and Manchester City manage to finally dispossessed him after he skips past a couple more recovering City players.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:15

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 45 minutes

Just the solitary minute of added time.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:16

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 45 + 1 minutes

Nearly an awkward moment!

Nicolas Otamendi is caught off guard as a Chelsea free kick reaches his dome, and he so nearly guides the ball inside the post of his own goal, the ball just about trickling wide with Ederson beaten.

Heart in his mouth.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:17

HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:17

An odd half in many ways, Manchester City dominating possession but finding Chelsea a much harder nut to crack than they were two weeks ago.

Sergio Aguero rifled over in their brightest moment, but Pep Guardiola's side only managed a single shot on target in a rather dull first 45 minutes against a Chelsea side built to frustrate.

So far, they're doing a good job. Resolute stuff, and in the very final moments of the half Maruzio Sarri's charges just started to threaten.

Deadlock so far - all to play for in the second half...

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:21

And, well, that's just about it.

No VAR drama, no choice tackles, no goalmouth action - nothing. 

Extra time returns to the Carabao Cup or the final, and we may have to use the extra half-hour if the game continues in this manner.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:27

A half-time change for Manchester City, injury-enforced.

Aymeric Laporte has not re-emerged, but there is experience to replace him - Vincent Kompany into the cup final fire on his 350th Manchester City appearance.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:32

Back underway.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:32

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 46 minutes

An chance for Willian to deliver as Manchester City concede a free kick, but there are no Chelsea runners as the outswinger curls across the six yard box and Kompany watches the ball out of play for a goal kick.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:34

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