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Manchester City completed a hat-trick of Carabao Cup wins after a nervy 2-1 win over battling Aston Villa.<\/p>\nManchester City completed a hat-trick of Carabao Cup wins after a nervy 2-1 win over battling Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
Sergio Ag\u00fcero and Rodri struck in the first half at Wembley to earn Pep Guardiola his 29th trophy as a manager.<\/p>\n
Mbwana Samatta pulled a goal back for Villa but, despite Bjorn Engels hitting a post with two minutes left, a spirited performance could not stop City.<\/p>\n
The holders have now lifted the trophy in five of the last seven seasons, with Liverpool the only other team to win it three years in a row, between 1981 and 1984.<\/p>\n
Victory also gave City welcome reason for cheer following their two-year European ban, against which the club are appealing,<\/p>\n
For Dean Smith\u2019s Villa, defeat capped a weekend which saw them drop into the bottom three in the Premier League after their relegation rivals picked up vital wins.<\/p>\n
Star man Jack Grealish failed to have any impact at Wembley and, while Villa put up more fight than in the 6-1 defeat by City 49 days earlier, they are now left in a nail-biting fight against the drop.<\/p>\n
Villa have won three of their last 13 league games but can take heart from their gutsy display in the final.<\/p>\n
Having been so passive in defeat to City last time, Villa took the game to their opponents and Anwar El Ghazi planted a header over after three minutes.<\/p>\n
But Guardiola\u2019s side soon took control and Ag\u00fcero flicked a ninth-minute header over.<\/p>\n
They dominated possession, as Villa sat deep, trying to probe for an opening but initially found their opponent\u2019s massed ranks difficult to break down.<\/p>\n
The pattern of the half was set, City pressing and Villa frustrating but Ag\u00fcero\u2019s breakthrough inevitably came after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
Rodri\u2019s fine pass found Phil Foden escaping around the back and his header fell for Ag\u00fcero to sweep in, via a touch from Tyrone Mings, from six yards.<\/p>\n
The striker, who scored a hat-trick in City\u2019s romp at Villa Park, ended a four-game drought for his 22nd goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Foden\u2019s angled drive then deflected wide and Guardiola\u2019s side waited for the right moment to pick Villa off again.<\/p>\n
They did not have to wait long for a simplistic second on the half hour.<\/p>\n
Grealish blocked Ilkay Gundogan\u2019s cross with Lee Mason awarding a corner.<\/p>\n
Villa disputed it, with replays confirming it should have been a goal kick, but then failed to deal with Gundogan\u2019s delivery and Rodri got above Frederic Guilbert to crash in a header.<\/p>\n
The game looked gone and Mings blocked Raheem Sterling\u2019s drive to prevent a third before John Stones\u2019 slip gifted Villa a way back four minutes before the break.<\/p>\n
The defender tumbled as he chased Matt Targett\u2019s chip, which allowed El Ghazi to cross for Samatta to head in from six yards.<\/p>\n
City had threatened to outclass their opponents before the goal and emerged for the second half eager to stamp their authority again.<\/p>\n
Foden volleyed wide and Kevin De Bruyne replaced Gundogan but City were far from their fluid best.<\/p>\n
Villa refused to go quietly and the Premier League strugglers kept the Premier League champions, who were too casual at times, on their toes.<\/p>\n
Orjan Nyland denied Rodri a second with 17 minutes left when he turned the midfielder\u2019s header wide and Ag\u00fcero hit the side netting before Villa almost forced extra time with two minutes remaining.<\/p>\n
Conor Hourihane swung in a corner and Engels\u2019 header was brilliantly turned onto the post by Claudio Bravo.<\/p>\n
David Silva could have eased any late nerves a minute later but his low drive was stopped by Nyland.<\/p>\n