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, 65 minutes 

Is there a clause in the laws of football that when the game is as dull as this we can move straight to penalties on 70 minutes?

Because this is downright awful.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:53

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 66 minutes

Something happens, and it's a great chance!

Eden Hazard ghosts past Vincent Kompany with ridiculous ease and N'Golo Kante finally labours up in support, arriving to meet Hazard's cut back about eight yards from goal but spooning over the bar.

An opportunity missed.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:54

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 68 minutes

Manchester City just sparked back to life a little by that Kante chance.

Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have shots blocked.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:56

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 70 minutes

Over the bar!

Willian is well found by a pass across the box and Ross Barkley arrives behind him in prime curling position.

Seeking the top corner across Ederson, Barkley's effort starts high and never quite comes down, sailing a couple of yards over the angle of the goal.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 17:58

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 72 minutes 

Chelsea have started to pour men forward with more regularity and run into issues as Manchester City launch a quick counter.

Antonio Rudiger does his best to stop it singlehandedly, first felling Kevin De Bruyne and then scything into David Silva right on the edge of the box, conceding free kick in a very dangerous position and going into the book.

Chance.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:00

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 73 minutes

Almost inevitably, the effort is poor.

Kevin De Bruyne confidently strides up to the ball but sends it high into the stands.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:01

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 75 minutes

Fantastic football from Chelsea, Ross Barkley and Emerson combining superbly on the left, Eden Hazard overpowering David Silva to move to the edge of the box and release Pedro, who could shoot but opts to look for Hazard instead, the ball cut out before Hazard can surely sweep home.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:03

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 77 minutes

Two first-class examples of holding midfield play from N'Golo Kante, first alive to the threat of Raheem Sterling and strong in the jump to cut out the lofted pass, then swift to recover and slide in brilliantly to protect his centre backs as Bernardo Silva looked to skip past them.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:06

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 79 minutes

Changes for both sides.

Ilkay Gündoğan for David Silva for Manchester City.

Hold on - Maurizio Sarri has gone off script. Callum Hudson-Odoi will be his first change, much to the delight of the Chelsea fans.

A Spanish cull - Pedro goes off. 

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:08

​Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City, 81 minutes

Hudson-Odoi thinks there may be a gap to squeeze past Nicolas Otamendi but the Argentine's sizeable right boot fills it rather swiftly and sends Hudson-Odoi tumbling to the turf, ball no longer in his possession. 

Harry Latham-Coyle24 February 2019 18:09

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