Manchester City wins League Cup

Manchester City won the League Cup for a third consecutive season by beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Sunday, providing the club with a moment of celebration as it fights to protect its reputation off the field.

AP reports that City looked to be cruising to victory when Sergio Aguero and Rodri scored in the opening 30 minutes at Wembley Stadium but then had to fend off a Villa rally.

Rodri’s winning goal in the EFL Cup final was a controversial one that left Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish lamenting his side’s luck. Jack Grealish described himself as “devastated” after Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 EFL Cup final loss against Manchester City at Wembley.  “The winner is a goal that should never have been a goal – it was not a corner. The referee said [Gundogan] was off the pitch when it hit him. We wanted an explanation at half-time but he didn’t want to give one. A club like us who haven’t won anything in a while and we lose by a goal that shouldn’t have stood. We’re proud of each other. City are in the top two or three teams in Europe. We always knew it was going to be tough and now we focus on the league.”

Dean Smith’s side are locked in a battle for Premier League survival, sitting 19th in the table and two points adrift of safety.

Japan Times / AP / Yahoo Sport 

epa08262669 An Aston Villa supporter smiles ahead of the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

epa08262694 Supporters of Manchester City (back) and Aston Villa (front) cheer ahead of the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

epa08262844 Mbwana Samatta (C) of Aston Villa celebrates with teammates Douglas Luiz (L) and Ahmed Elmohamady (R) after scoring their team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epa08262894 Sergio Aguero (R) of Manchester City in action against Marvelous Nakamba (L) of Aston Villa during the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epa08262911 Marvelous Nakamba (front C) of Aston Villa is booked by referee Lee Mason (back C) during the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epa08262965 John Stones (L) of Manchester City celebrates after the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epaselect epa08262695 Manchester City supporters cheer ahead of the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

epa08263038 Manchester City players Phil Foden (L) and Rodrigo (R) celebrate with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epaselect epaselect epa08263017 Manchester City players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

epa08262596 Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata (L) scores a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Lecce vs Atalanta at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce, Italy, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/MARCO LEZZI