EFL Carabao Cup: Manchester City Win Trophy For Third Time In A Row

It is Manchester City again lifting the EFL Carabao Cup for the third time in a row. The Pep Guardiola-led side emerged as the champions at Wembley Stadium where they defeated Aston Villa by 2-1 to lift the trophy for the fourth time.

In spite of their fight against the Uefa two-season ban from all European competitions which they have appealed against, City went all out for the offensive and within half an hour of play had moved up in the lead by 2-0 from Sergio Aguero and Rodrigo's strike.

The game remained under the three-time champions' control afterward but Villa pulled back one goal from Mbwana Samatta's header late in the first half and narrow the lead to 2-1. The rest of the game went through without any of the sides finding the back of the nets.

"Three times in a row is a big success," said Guardiola. "We've won a lot. I tried when we arrive, every game we play we try to win it, every competition we try to win it, and three times in a row, being here and winning is great."

Villa were close to getting an equalizer and their head coach Dean Smith had leaped up joy only to see that Bjorn Engels' header was saved by Claudio Bravo and John Stones was well-positioned to clear the ball into safety.

City finished last season with a domestic treble which was the first of its kind in English football, however, the possibilities of following that antecedent is not there this season as they have already been outclassed by Liverpool in the league title race but are in the contest for FA Cup and will face Sheffield United in the 5th Round fixture on Wednesday.