JOIN USCaballero saves hand City title
Manchester City guaranteed manager Manuel Pellegrini some silverware in his last season in charge with a penalty shootout defeat of Liverpool in the League Cup final after Sunday’s match at Wembley ended 1-1.
City keeper Willy Caballero saved spot-kicks from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana while Yaya Toure slotted home the winning effort as Pellegrini's side triumphed 3-1 on penalties.
Earlier, Fernandinho gave City the lead after 49 minutes when his shot slipped through goalkeeper Simon Mignolet's grasp but Coutinho levelled from a rebound.
Mignolet and Caballero made vital saves in extra time but City clinched the season's first trophy in dramatic fashion to give Pellegrini his second League Cup, having also lifted it two years ago as well as the Premier League title.
In the openign half, Liverpool were assured in possession without having much cutting edge and it was counter-attcking City who came closest to scoring after 22 minutes when Sergio Aguero's shot touched against the post. Aguero had led Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho a merry dance in the build-up, the Frenchman still dizzy after an earlier clash of heads with team-mate Emre Can that eventually forced him to be replaced by Kolo Toure.
The second period was action-packed and it was four minutes old when the deadlock was broken in a moment Mignolet will want to forget.
Aguero slid a pass to the sprinting Fernandinho down the right and while the Brazilian's shot from a tight angle was well struck, it should never have squeezed past the keeper. Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp sent Lallana on with 20 minutes remaining and the England midfielder was involved in the equaliser.
Arriving unmarked in the area, he prodded Daniel Sturridge's cross against the post and the ball deflected kindly for Coutinho to beat Caballero in front of a red wall of Liverpool supporters who set off flares in celebration.