Caballero the hero for City in shoot-out
Man City win the Capital One Cup after penalties
GOALKEEPER Willy Caballero was the hero as Manchester City won their fourth League Cup title in a penalty shoot-outvictory over Liverpool at Wembley.
In a tale of contrasting fortunes for the men between the posts the Argentinian, back-up to Joe Hart, saved three spotkicks while opposite number Simon Mignolet did not manage one as City won the shoot-out3-1 after the match finished 1-1.
While all the focus had been on the attacking options both sides had at their disposal, the match ended up being decided by the goalkeepers.
Mignolet’s evening was something of a rollercoaster, ending on a low, as his error in allowing Fernandinho’s shotunder his body handed City the lead which was only cancelled out by Philippe Coutinho’s 83rd-minute strike.
The Belgium international also made a number of excellentsaves but having handed the initiative to City itwas a long way back for Liverpool and their exertions began to tell in extra-time.
It was only the fourth shoot-out Liverpool had lostin 18 attempts.
Manuel Pellegrini lifted his third trophy in justunder three years atthe club and he was vindicated in his decision to stand by Caballero.
The Argentinian’s place in City’s starting line-up came under scrutiny after some unconvincing performances in the competition, with regular stopper Joe Hart waiting in the wings.
Pellegrini was repaid as the 34-year-old saved three shoot-outpenalties for a 3-1 win, denying Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lucas.
“It’s amazing, to win this cup, for me it’s amazing,” said a tearful Caballero. “Itwas a hard week for me butwe had a talk that we could do it. It is fantastic for the Blue people.”
For counterpartJurgen Klopp, reaching his first final just 143 days after taking over, it was more Wembley heartache having lost the Champions League final atthe venue as Borussia Dortmund manager in 2013.
“I d o n ’ t th i n k w e played as well as we could, nor did Man City,” he said. “Penalties is one way you can lose a final.”