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Man City beat Chelsea to win EFL Cup Final after Wembley penalty shootout

Raheem Sterling proved Manchester City's saviour as his winning spot-kick helped Pep Guardiola's side narrowly beat Chelsea 4-3 on penalties in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

After what was a cagey game that finished goalless after normal time and then extra-time, Pep Guardiola's side converted four of their five penalties as David Luiz hit the post for the Blues and Jorginho saw his effort saved by Ederson.

The win, however narrow, keeps City on for the quadruple as under-fire Maurizio Sarri saw his chance of securing the first trophy of his managerial career disappear in agonising fashion.

Chelsea's Italian coach Maurizio Sarri knew he was under intense pressure heading into the EFL Cup final on Sunday because of Chelsea's inconsistent run of results since the turn of the year.

After dropping out of the top four following a 6-0 loss against City at the Etihad Stadium exactly two weeks earlier, and then being dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester United, the Blues' Europa League round of 32 second-leg tie against Malmo provided Chelsea with the perfect chance to recoup some confidence.

That they did with a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge and, while the hosts' first half performance was lacking in inspiration, Chelsea certainly weren't slow out of the blocks against City at Wembley three days later.

In fact, Sarri's men showed focus and determination - two things the Italian had previously criticised his team for not demonstrating against the top sides.

(AFP/Getty Images)
(AFP/Getty Images)

While neither controlling possession nor creating any shots on target in an altered system featuring Eden Hazard as a 'false No.9', Chelsea defended well and made life frustrating for City. Indeed, the only shot City had in the first half was Sergio Aguero's effort that hurtled over the bar in the 22nd minute.

Down the other end of the pitch, and Hazard looked isolated for most of the first half. But the Belgian showed his utter class just before the break when he latched onto Willian's pass before twisting and turning his way past several City players but seeing his eventual shot blocked.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Then there was a nervy moment for City when Nicolas Otamendi nearly headed Willian's free-kick into the back of his own net just before the break. But the first half ended goalless as the second began with Guardiola bringing on Vincent Kompany for the injured Aymeric Laporte.

The dynamics of the game remained the same after the break, however, with Chelsea's struggles to create any shots on target again clear to see when Hazard was released and surged into the area only for Otamendi to dispossess him all too easily.

Aguero, meanwhile, thought he had opened the scoring - in front of the City end - but was denied by the offside flag, with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) backing the original decision.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

But the longer the score stayed 0-0, the more mistakes crept into City's game and, indeed, the more spaces opened up for the likes of Hazard and Willian to operate in.

A perfect example came in the 66th minute when Willian's superb long-ball found the Belgian, who cut the ball back for N'Golo Kante only for the midfielder to fire over the bar.

(AFP/Getty Images)
(AFP/Getty Images)

Barkley followed it up with a curling shot that flew just wide.

As Guardiola brought on Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane, Sarri showed his willingness to use youth - one criticism of his young tenure at Stamford Bridge - by sending on Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Yet the pair couldn't inspire a win in normal time as the game went to extra-time - during which the returning Kepa Arrizabalaga mad two crucial saves to keep Chelsea in the match before a bizarre incident occurred involving the Spaniard.

(AFP/Getty Images)
(AFP/Getty Images)

Kepa appeared to have suffered another injury while making a save but refused to be substituted off for Willy Caballero in what was an embarrassing few minutes in which Sarri screamed at the young goalkeeper from the touchline to come off.

Yet he did not, and when Antonio Rudiger had to hold Sarri back from making his feelings known to Kepa just before the penalty shoot-out, it showed the lack of unity in the Chelsea camp.

Kepa, to his credit, did save Sane's penalty but he should also have kept out Aguero's effort, instead allowing it to roll under his arms.

But Luiz will also be disappointed with himself after hitting the post with his effort as Jorginho's opening penalty was saved by Ederson, to ensure City retained their EFL Cup crown and heap yet more misery on Sarri and Chelsea.