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Raheem Sterling won Manchester City their second Carabao Cup in a row, the fourth side to win two consecutive league cups in a row, after his penalty sealed their 4-2 win in the shootout after the game ended 0-0.
Leroy Sane saw his penalty saved but David Luiz’s and Jorginho’s missed penalties before Sterling’s winner condemned Maurizio Sarri’s men to defeat.
Late drama with Kepa Arrizabalaga refusing to go off will cloud the headlines though as the Spaniard refused to be substituted despite Sarri telling the keeper to come off for Willy Caballero.
Chelsea made five changes to the squad that beat Malmö FF. Kepa Arrizabalaga replaced Willy Caballero, Mateo Kovačić made way for Jorginho while Eden Hazard was deployed as a striker meaning Oliver Giroud dropped to the bench. Gonzalo Higuaín also started from the bench.
As for City, only Oleksandr Zinchenko came into the team that beat FC Schalke 04 as he replaced Ilkay Gundogan, meaning that Aymeric Laporte would move back to his familiar centre-back position.
Maurizio Sarri opted for a more defensive approach and it seemed to be effective in the first half, as the Chelsea defenders allowed Pep Guardiola’s City to attack, comfortably soaking up the pressure.
Sergio Agüero found out seconds into the game that the hosts were much more prepared to fight against the Manchester-based club as Jorginho caught him moments after kick-off.
David Luiz led the Blues’ defensive effort, every attack seemingly headed or kicked away by the Brazilian.
It took until the 21st minute for either side to have a shot, as Sergio Agüero chested the ball down following a Bernardo Silva cross, but his shot went miles over the bar.
Aguero got another chance but the defensive unit of Luiz and Antonio Rüdiger deflected it through to Kepa.
Luiz was booked for his foul on Bernardo Silva in the 30th minute, hindering the host’s defensive approach.
As the game went on Chelsea grew in confidence, passing combinations between Eden Hazard, Willian and N’Golo Kanté slowly getting the side further up the pitch.
Centre-back Nicolas Otamendi had a half chance in the 43rd minute as he got on the end of a Zinchenko half-volley at the back post, but it went straight at Kepa.
If Sarri’s side were going to score in the first half then it would have come from their Belgium striker Hazard. The 28-year-old weaving through a number of players before seeing his shot blocked.
Otamendi almost gave Chelsea the lead just before half time but the Argentine was relieved to see his header sail past Ederson’s post, when it could have easily have ended up in his own net.
Early in the second half, Hazard was put through but ran out of ideas as he entered the box and Otamendi was able to clear.
In the 56th minute, VAR had to be used to determine whether Sergio Agüero was offside or not, as he span and put the ball into the back of the net following an Otamendi shot but the goal was not given.
An incredible Hazard run ending in the Belgian setting up Frenchman Kanté, but the World Cup winner blazed over a good opportunity for the lead.
Chelsea continued to make their presence known as time ticked away, Ederson forced to tip over a Willian free-kick.
Fernandinho departed injured in added time as City went down to ten, although Danilo restored the numbers as we entered extra-time.
This final was in it’s first extra time period since 2016, when the Citizens went on to beat Liverpool on penalties.
Hazard’s cross only needed a touch to beat Ederson but he failed to find a teammate before Chelsea’s talisman hit a wayward shot deep into the first half of extra time that summed up both teams’ afternoons.
Manchester City thought that they had won it in the 19th minute of extra time. Raheem Sterling broke into the box and beat Luiz to pull it back for Agüero to tap home, only for Spanish keeper Kepa to get a hand out to deny Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.
Kepa again stopped City from scoring before wailing in pain after making a save from Agüero, after the Argentine found himself through following a Rüdiger slip.
The Spaniard was then involved in one of the most bizarre cup final incidents of all-time. After injuring himself a second time, his manager signalled for the former Bilbao keeper to be substituted, as presented on the substitutes board with Willy Caballero his replacement.
The Chelsea stopper refused to be withdrawn, sparking fury from Sarri which almost resulted in him walking off down the tunnel. The 24-year-old clearly disrespected the manager’s authority and stayed on the field as referee Jon Moss blew for penalties.
This final was the first since the 2008/2009 final to end goalless, that match saw Manchester United draw with Tottenham Hotspur before Ben Foster was the penalty shootout hero for United.
Jorginho had his penalty saved, and City went one up as Gundogan scored. César Azpilicueta, Agüero and Emerson all scored before Sane missed and then Luiz hit the post. Bernardo Silva then put his side 3-2 up before Hazard’s Panenka penalty levelled but that wasn’t enough as England international Sterling’s penalty went in off of the crossbar to win the cup.
Pep’s side retain the crown and win the first out of the four competitions they are still competing in this season.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 0 MANCHESTER CITY 0 (CITY WIN 4-2 ON PENALTIES)
Teams-
Chelsea- Kepa Arrizabalaga, César Azpilicueta (C), David Luiz, Antonio Rüdiger, Emerson Palmieri, Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté, Ross Barkley (OFF 89’), Willian (OFF 95’), Eden Hazard, Pedro (OFF 79’).
Subs- Gonzalo Higuaín (ON 95’), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (ON 89’), Callum Hudson-Odoi (ON 79’).
Unused Subs– Willy Caballero, Olivier Giroud, Mateo Kovačić, Andreas Christensen.
Cards– David Luiz (Yellow), Antonio Rüdiger (Yellow), Jorginho (Yellow)
Manchester City– Ederson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte (OFF 45’), Nicolas Otamendi, Kyle Walker, Fernandinho (OFF 90’), David Silva (C) (OFF 79’), Kevin De Bruyne (OFF 86’), Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Agüero.
Subs- Vincent Kompany (ON 45’), Ilkay Gundogan (ON 79’), Leroy Sane (ON 86’), Danilo (ON 90’).
Unused Subs- Arijanet Muric, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden.
Cards – Fernandinho (Yellow), Nicolas Otamendi (Yellow)
