It may have been a harder road to silverware than most expected after an expensive summer, but Manchester City achieved one of their biggest goals of the season by winning the Capital One Cup after a penalty-shootout win over Liverpool – 1-1 after extra time – that featured three of the Citizens’ South Americans stars contributing to the win.
Surprisingly, it was backup goalkeeper Willy Caballero who represented his country the best – saving three straight penalty kicks from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and finally Adam Lallana to set up Yaya Toure for the game-winning kick to secure a 3-1 victory on penalties.
As for manager Manuel Pellegrini – who had been harshly criticized for starting Caballero over Joe Hart in the match – he earned vindication for his strategy ahead of his departure from Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
And of course, we could not talk about Man City’s elites without mentioning Sergio Aguero, who converted the second of Man City’s penalty kicks.
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Fernandinho opened up the scoring in the match at the 49′ mark, but Liverpool managed to equalize at the 83′ mark thanks to Philippe Coutinho.
A 30-minute AET period was scoreless which sent the match to penalties.
Fernandinho was the leadoff kicker, but his shot deflected off the goalpost. Liverpool’s Emre Can converted his own kick to take a lead after fooling Caballero, but that would be the last kick the Argentinian stopper would allow.
Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero both converted their kicks as Caballero deflected the next three, setting up Yaya Toure for the winner.
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