Manchester City claimed a record-equalling fourth successive League Cup triumph as Aymeric Laporte’s late header sealed a deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Spurs had soaked up intense City pressure for most of the game to somehow stay in contention at Wembley Stadium. But City finally made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute from an unlikely source as defender Laporte met Kevin de Bruyne’s free kick and headed past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
A combination of Lloris, last-ditch defending and some poor City finishing had kept the 8,000 crowd on tenterhooks but in the end Pep Guardiola’s side got their reward. They have now matched Liverpool’s feat of winning the competition for four seasons in a row, and also join Liverpool with the most League Cup wins on eight. Tottenham, who had rookie manager Ryan Mason on the touchline after Jose Mourinho’s sacking last week, are still waiting for their first trophy since 2008.
Follow all the reaction below.
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The Carabao Cup champions
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:48
The wait goes on
It’s a painful defeat for Tottenham who haven’t lifted a trophy since 2008. There was a lot of optimism that they could come here and give Manchester City a game but it didn’t work out like. Man City were the better side and deserved the victory. The wait goes on for Tottenham who now have to focus on finishing in a European place in the Premier League.
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:45
Man of the match, Riyad Mahrez, spoke to Sky Sports:
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:40
Record equalisers
Manchester City draw level with Liverpool to equal the record for most league cup wins with eight, achieved in 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and, now, 2021.
They have also matched Liverpool’s record of lifting the trophy four years in a row – achieved in 1984.
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:37
Post-match reaction from match winner Aymeric Laporte:
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:33
Fernandinho lifts the cup
A Covid compliant celebration sees Manchester City collect their own medals, and a bottle of champers each, before captain Fernandinho lifts the trophy!
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:32
What we learned
Five major takeaways from Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Tottenham:
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:30
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:27
The noise from the fans is great, the Manchester City fans are making themselves heard in the stands, Aymeric Laporte is having a tough time hearing the questions in his post-match interview.
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:27
Aymeric Laporte’s header was the difference between the teams. He was lucky to still be on the pitch after some dubious decisions from Paul Tierney in the first half but his header was a belter. Right into the bottom corner from a Kevin De Bruyne free kick.
Michael Jones25 April 2021 18:23