Football
Kepa substitution row overshadows Man City’s league cup win
Raheem Sterling hit the winning penalty as Manchester City retained their EFL Cup crown with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea following a goalless draw that saw Kepa Arrizabalaga incredibly defy under-pressure Maurizio Sarri.
City hammered Chelsea 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago but Maurizio Sarri’s switch of system to use Eden Hazard as a false nine – with Gonzalo Higuain missing out at Wembley on Sunday – boosted his side’s defensive solidity.
Pep Guardiola claimed pre-match it was too early to talk about City’s chances of winning a historic quadruple despite being in the FA Cup quarter-finals, leading their last-16 Champions League tie with Schalke and sitting neck-and-neck with Liverpool in the Premier League.
Remarkably, an injured Kepa would not make way for Willy Caballero in extra time and, although he saved one spot-kick, Sterling converted the decisive effort for City to deny Sarri, reportedly close to the sack, his first trophy as a manager.
-
Latest1 week agoHigh Court opens hearing on Goodluck Jonathan’s 2027 presidential eligibility
-
Latest1 day agoMakinde declares 2027 presidential bid under PDP–APM alliance
-
Business2 days agoAnger, debate trail proposed $1.25bn loan amid concerns over Nigeria’s debt surge
-
Featured2 days agoWike dismisses political speculation over meeting with APC Chairman Yilwatda
-
Latest4 days agoWike loyalists dominate As APC clears 33 aspirants for Rivers Assembly primaries, 65 disqualified
-
Featured1 day agoObasanjo faults Tinubu’s economic reforms, calls them necessary but poorly designed
-
Business2 days agoNigeria’s 2026 debt servicing hits $11.6bn as Tinubu decries global financial inequity
-
Latest7 days agoNigerian Senate reverses standing orders amendment over constitutional concerns