City win Carabao Cup for fourth consecutive year

Manchester City have won the Carabao Cup for a record equalling eighth time after beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to lift the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.

Aymeric Laporte was City’s hero, heading home from Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick in the 82nd minute to give Pep Guardiola’s side a thoroughly deserved victory, which sees us move level with Liverpool as the most successful side the competition’s history.

City rose to the occasion at Wembley Stadium, where the most surprising aspect of the contest was that it took so long for a goal to come.

The defending champions were in total control from the first minute and but for some heroic last ditch defending, would have been out of sight at half time.

Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld both made goal saving blocks to deny Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, as Spurs were forced to withstand wave after wave of City attack in a particularly one-sided opening 45-minutes in which Zack Steffen didn’t have a save to make.

At the other, the impressive Riyad Mahrez twice went close with curling efforts, the first of which flashed inches wide of Hugo Lloris’ right-hand post, with the second flying just over the bar, whilst Sterling saw his chip bounce agonisingly wide after beating the Spurs’ keeper to Fernandinho’s slide rule through ball.

Spurs improved after the break and restricted City’s attacking opportunities, but Giovani Lo Celso’s effort, which was smartly tipped round the post by Steffen, was their only chance of note.

City continued to carve out opportunities, with Fernandinho heading straight at Lloris after a brilliant cross from De Bruyne, whilst Mahrez went close again after a brilliant jinking run finished with a fierce drive that just had too much on it.

Guardiola’s side’s patience was rewarded when Laporte towered above Sissoko to meet De Bruyne’s centre, to the delight of the 2000 City fans, who’s presence at Wembley made a special day even more memorable.

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MATCH DETAILS:

Manchester City (1): Steffen; Walker, Rúben Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Fernandinho (Rodri, 83’), De Bruyne (Bernardo Silva, 86’), Gündogan; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling

Tottenham (0): Lloris; Aurier (Bergwijn, 90’), Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilón; Hojbjerg (Dele Alli, 83’), Winks; Lo Celso (Sissoko, 66’), Moura (Bale, 66’), Son; Kane

Goal: 1-0, Laporte (82’)

Referee: Paul Tierney. Bookings: Reguilón (27’), Laporte (44’), Fernandinho (59’)