CLAUDIO HAS A SILVER LINING
Keeper saves his best until last as Pep’s men celebrate another trophy Who says this is not a trophy worth winning?
AFTER 88 minutes, Manchester City were convinced that they had both hands firmly on the trophy.
The trouble is the Carabao Cup is unique in that it has a third handle and, but for one man, it could have been snatched out of their grasp. Claudio, Bravo!
Never has a man been better named to take a bow for rescuing his team-mates.
The Manchester City goalkeeper had done little in 88 minutes apart from picking one unstoppable bullet header out of the back of his net just before half-time.
Then, as Villa gamely mustered one final push, the City defence in front of him completely switched off.
A deep corner reached Bjorn Engels at the far post and his header was firm and on target.
Bravo could only get his fingertips into the path of the ball – but it was enough to deflect it onto his post and away.
Extra-time avoided at the end of a week in which Pep Guardiola’s side had puffed hard enough to see off Real Madrid at the Bernabeu amid similar late drama.
It was agonising for Villa, who had been led out by manager and supporter Dean Smith for an unexpected showpiece in what has been a tough season. But they had not just come for the occasion.
Players from both sides sank to the ground when the final whistle blew after five frantic minutes of stoppage time.
Who says this is not a trophy worth winning?
On balance, City were the better team. With both the scorers in midweek, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, on the bench they had plenty in reserve and should have won more comfortably.
However, yet another worrying gaffe from John Stones just before half-time kept Villa on their tales.
A hopeful up-and-under was all it took to bamboozle the England defender, who has become so low on confidence just recently. He lost his footing when distracted by what was going on around him and Anwar El Ghazi pounced, with his inviting cross headed in so fiercely by Mbwana Samatta that you could almost hear the netting strain under the impact. Bravo’s late heroics to deny Villa a second goal meant that ultimately the separated by a strike not have counted.
Replays showed that the corner from which Rodri rose above Frederic Guilbert to nod in should sides were that should
have been a goal-kick. But such is the weird world of VAR that we can have goals chalked off for fouls in the opposing penalty area, but a wrong call over a corner cannot be reviewed.
There had been little doubt about the City opener, which came after Villa burned themselves out with their eagerness to get in and amongst their opponents.
Rodri’s pass picked out Phil Foden brilliantly and his header back across goal was whalloped home by Sergio Aguero in typical fashion.
The England Under-21 midfielder’s part in securing his fifth major trophy at the age of just 19 was no more than he deserved as he showcased the talent City have within their ranks: trapping a 70-yard pass instantly with the outside of his foot; taking another bullet from a team-mate dead on his chest; and dropping his shoulder to play a reverse pass to Kyle Walker on the overlap.
But without restoring that twogoal cushion, City should have been more than aware that anything can be conjured up by English football.
Although, after Watford’s defeat of Liverpool, perhaps two such massive shocks on the same weekend was just too much of an ask.