Extra Time:
Pellegrini looked to take advantage of fresh legs, as he sent on Jesus Navas and Pablo Zabaleta for Fernando and Bacary Sagna respectively, at the start of extra time. Manchester City looked to change the pattern of the game, but were unsuccessful, as both sides were unable to create any chances of note.
However, Mignolet was back to his heroics at the end of the first half of extra time, as Sergio Aguero looked set to score after bursting past Lucas in the box, but his dink was met by a fantastic reaction save by the Belgian, as the referee blew the whistle to bring the first 15 minutes of extra time to an end.
It was Willy Caballero’s turn to display his heroics as the second half of extra time began, the Argentine brilliantly kept out substitute Divock Origi’s header from close range after James Milner had crossed the ball in. The Englishman nearly caused a calamity soon after, as he attempted a header back to his keeper but Aguero had ghosted in behind him, but his stretched boot took the ball over the bar.
There were ugly scenes as Adam Lallana reacted badly to Yaya Toure’s awful challenge. The Ivorian picked up the Englishman with one hand as the two squared up, but just as things were set to get uglier, the team-mates and referee arrived to separate the pair, who both earned yellow cards.
Fernandinho had a chance to grab a late winner from a corner, but his header went wide, with Bony right behind him looking on in agony. The referee blew the final whistle as the Capital One Cup Final went to penalties – familiar territory for Liverpool.
Penalties:
Emre Can stepped up to take the first penalty, and in a great display of bravado chipped a panenka. Fernandinho went next for City, but hit the post with Mignolet diving the right way.
Lucas went next for Liverpool but Caballero saved his regulation effort. Jesus Navas’s effort went into the corner with Mignolet almost managing to save it.
Coutinho stuttered in his run-up and went to the keeper’s right, but Caballero saved his poor penalty. Sergio Aguero gave City the advantage with an impeccably calm penalty, despite Mignolet guessing right.
Caballero was the hero as he guessed right to make an incredible save from Adam Lallana’s effort. Yaya Toure had to score to give City the trophy, which he did with aplomb to give Manuel Pellegrini the Capital One Cup in his final season in charge, as the Sky Blues piled on the Ivorian with joy.
