2021 EFL Cup Final
Manchester City players celebrating their Carabao Cup victory
Event2020–21 EFL Cup
Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur
1 0
Date25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Man of the MatchRiyad Mahrez (Manchester City)[1]
RefereePaul Tierney (Lancashire)[2]
Attendance7,773[lower-alpha 1]

The 2021 EFL Cup Final was the final of the 2020–21 EFL Cup. It was played at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 25 April 2021, between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur,[3] having been originally scheduled to take place on 28 February 2021.[4] The EFL's desire for a greater number of fans to be able to attend the match was the primary reason for the change of date.[5] It was the 61st EFL Cup Final and the 14th to be played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.[6]

The match was the ninth Football League/EFL Cup final to be played by Tottenham, of which four have ended in victory. The four wins include the club's most recent trophy, claimed in 2008.

Manchester City appeared in their ninth Football League/EFL Cup final, and their fourth consecutive final, becoming only the second team to do so, after Liverpool between 1981 and 1984. City's win equalled Liverpool's records of eight EFL Cup wins and four consecutive wins. City's manager Pep Guardiola became the first coach to win the cup in four consecutive years (the first three of Liverpool's four consecutive titles were won by Bob Paisley, and the fourth by Joe Fagan).

The match was televised live by Sky Sports, while radio commentary was provided by BBC Radio and Talksport.

Ticketing

On 22 February 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that football supporters would not be permitted in stadiums until 17 May 2021 and then only with a reduced stadium capacity.[7] On 4 April, in yet another schedule to open events to fans, a plan to allow 8,000 supporters at the final was announced. The final was also planned be a pilot event for COVID passports.[8]

In a further announcement on 13 April, a plan to allow 2,000 fans for each club was put forward. This would be subject to the testing of fans for COVID-19 with both a lateral flow test and a PCR test before the game and a PCR test after the game and would not permit those under 18, those deemed clinically vulnerable or pregnant women to attend.[9] Level Playing Field, a charity which campaigns for disabled rights, and a Tottenham Hotspur disabled fans' group both voiced their disapproval that a sub-section of society were excluded from attending the final.[10][11]

Route to the final

Manchester City

Round Opposition Score
3 Bournemouth (H) 2–1
4 Burnley (A) 3–0
QF Arsenal (A) 4–1
SF Manchester United (A) 2–0
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

Manchester City, as a Premier League club involved in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, started the competition in the third round. They beat EFL Championship side Bournemouth who were managed by Jason Tindall at the time and won 2–1 on what would their only home match in the tournament with goals from Liam Delap and Phil Foden for Manchester City and one goal from Sam Surridge for Bournemouth.[12]

In the fourth round they defeated fellow Premier League team Burnley 3–0 at Turf Moor with two goals from Raheem Sterling and one from Ferran Torres.[13]

In the quarter-finals they defeated Arsenal 4–1 at the Emirates Stadium with one goal each for City from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Foden and Aymeric Laporte and one goal for Arsenal from Alexandre Lacazette. This match also saw the face-off between Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as Arteta worked under Guardiola before becoming Arsenal manager.[14]

In the semi-finals they defeated local rivals Manchester United 2–0 at Old Trafford with one goal each from Manchester City captain Fernandinho and John Stones. The semi-finals were played over one-leg instead over the traditional two-legs in order to reduce fixture congestion.[15]

Tottenham Hotspur

Round Opposition Score
3 Leyton Orient (A) Walkover (3–0)[lower-alpha 2]
4 Chelsea (H) 1–1 (5–4 p.)
QF Stoke City (A) 3–1
SF Brentford (H) 2–0
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

Tottenham, as a Premier League team involved in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League, was originally scheduled to start playing in the third round on 22 September 2020. However the match, away to Leyton Orient, was postponed after multiple Orient players tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.[16] On 25 September, it was confirmed that Tottenham had received a bye into the fourth round, due to Orient's inability to fulfil the fixture.[17]

In the fourth round, Tottenham beat London rivals Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 5–4 on penalties, after the 90 minutes of play ended 1–1 with one goal for Tottenham Hotspur from Érik Lamela and one goal for Chelsea from Timo Werner. During the resulting penalty shoot-out Eric Dier, Lamela, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Lucas and Harry Kane all scored their penalties for Spurs and Tammy Abraham, Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Emerson all scored their penalties for Chelsea. However, Mason Mount missed his penalty and as a result Chelsea were eliminated. This match was a face-off between Tottenham Hotspur manager José Mourinho and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard who played under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.[18]

Tottenham visited Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium in the quarter-finals, they went home with a 3–1 victory with one goal each for Tottenham Hotspur from Gareth Bale, Ben Davies and Kane and one goal for Stoke City from Jordan Thompson.[19]

In the semi-finals, Tottenham met the only non-Premier League side still playing up to this stage, Brentford of the EFL Championship. Tottenham reached the final with a 2–0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a goal each for Tottenham Hotspur from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min. The semi-finals were played over one-leg instead over the traditional two-legs in order to reduce fixture congestion.[20]

Media coverage

The match was televised live by Sky Sports on their Football and Main Event channels.[21] Presenter Laura Woods was joined by pundits Michael Dawson, Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp, with match commentary by Martin Tyler and Gary Neville.[22] Free-to-air highlights were shown later in the evening on Quest.[23] The match was shown in the United States on ESPN+, with coverage available in both English and Spanish.[24]

Radio commentaries were provided by BBC Radio and Talksport. John Murray and Chris Sutton were the BBC commentators;[25] the match was broadcast on Radio 5 Live and the World Service and streamed via the BBC Sounds platform.[26][27][28] The Talksport commentary team was made up of Sam Matterface, Stuart Pearce and Ally McCoist.[29] Local stations BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Manchester also carried their own commentaries.[30][31]

Match

A reduced, socially distanced crowd capped to 8,000 was in attendance for the final.

Pre-match

On 19 April 2021, it was announced that Tottenham Hotspur head coach José Mourinho had been sacked and replaced by former Tottenham player Ryan Mason as an interim manager until the end of the season,[32] the youngest manager ever to manage in the EFL Cup Final at the age of 29 years old. Mason had played in Spurs' last League Cup final in 2015, which they lost 2–0 to Mourinho's Chelsea.[33]

Team selection

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola announced in his press conference ahead of the game that forward Sergio Agüero and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne would be fit enough to play, while Tottenham's interim manager, Ryan Mason, announced that he was going to take it "hour by hour" regarding Harry Kane's availability after he missed Spurs first match under Mason against Southampton.[34]

Summary

First half

Manchester City kicked off the final at 16:30 BST. The first chance fell to Manchester City when Raheem Sterling wrongfooted Serge Aurier and kept the ball in play and pulled it back for Phil Foden at the near post, he took his shot but fired it just wide of the target in the 7th minute. In the 8th minute, Riyad Mahrez came forward again down the right, he lifted a good cross in the middle for Sterling, he flicked the header on but couldn't keep it down though and it went just over the bar. In the 14th minute, it looked like a throw-in was heading straight out of play but Foden managed to keep it in, he pulled it back for Sterling in space in the middle, he turned before hitting a shot and Eric Dier threw himself in front of it to make the block. In the 20th minute, Zack Steffen punched a corner away, but Spurs managed to keep hold of it, Harry Winks switched the play out to the left for Son Heung-min, who nodded it down for Toby Alderweireld on the edge of the box, he drilled a low shot to the near post but it was just wide of the target. In the 26th minute, Spurs sloppily gave the ball away again and Mahrez whipped in a great cross into Sterling at the far post, but it was cut out by Alderweireld, Foden latched onto the loose ball though and fired a shot on goal but Hugo Lloris reflexively pushed it away at his near post. In the 27th minute, Sergio Reguilón was shown the game's first yellow card for late foul on Kevin De Bruyne. In the 30th minute a through ball from Fernandinho took the Spurs defenders out as Sterling ran onto it; Lloris rushed of his line to close him down so Sterling went for the chip but he couldn't get his angles right and it went wide of the far post. In the 35th minute, Reguilón was with Mahrez as soon as the ball was played into the winger, but Mahrez managed to wrongfoot him and open up a little space for a shot, he whipped it across goal towards the far post and Lloris was beaten but it was just wide of the far post. In the 37th minute, City moved it brilliantly on the edge of the box where they played it between Sterling, Foden, De Bruyne, Fernandinho and finally out to Mahrez on the right. He cut inside before firing another shot on goal but this one went just over the crossbar. In the 41st minute, De Bruyne was given too much time on the ball and he took a few touches before curing a lovely cross towards Sterling at the far post, Dier left it and Sterling reached it on the stretch but he couldn't poke it towards goal. In the 45th minute, Aymeric Laporte was booked for bringing Lucas Moura down. In the first minute of stoppage time, Mahrez wasn't closed down by Spurs again and he cut inside from the right and he had time to pick out a low cross to João Cancelo on the edge of the box he curled his effort towards the near post and Lloris tipped it onto the woodwork in the last action of the first half.[35]

Second half

Spurs got the second half underway and immediately went on the attack. In the 47th minute, Moura squared a ball to Giovani Lo Celso on the edge of the box and he took a touch before curling it towards the far bottom corner where Steffen pushed it away. In 55th minute, De Bruyne picked out Sterling with a low through ball into the left of the box this time and the forward cut inside before curling a shot towards the far post he sent it wide of the target and it was yet another good chance missed by Sterling. In the 67th minute, Ryan Mason made a double substitution for Spurs with Gareth Bale replacing Moura and Moussa Sissoko replacing Lo Celso. In the 72nd minute, Sterling peeled off the back of Sissoko when İlkay Gündoğan picked him out and Sterling took it to the by line in the box before pulling it back for Gündoğan he took the shot first time but dragged it wide of the near post. In the 74th minute, City went on the counter attack and Mahrez drove through midfield to get into space for a shot he hit his effort through the central defenders and Lloris got a strong hand to it to tip it away from goal. In the 82nd minute, Laporte scored the opener, a good free-kick from De Bruyne on the left and Laporte rose higher than Sissoko at the far post to reach it he flicked his header on and there was nothing Lloris could do to stop it nesting into the bottom left corner. In the 84th minute, Pep Guardiola made his first substitution for City with Rodri replacing Fernandinho. Also in the 84th minute, Mason made Spurs next substitution with Dele Alli replacing Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. In the 87th minute, Guardiola made City's next substitution with Bernando Silva replacing De Bruyne. In the 90th minute, Mason made another Spurs substitution with Steven Bergwijn replacing Aurier. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Rodri chipped the ball over Sissoko to pick out Foden's run and the Spurs defenders stopped to ask for offside Foden squared it to Mahrez in the middle of the box and he slotted it past Lloris before the flag belatedly went up against Foden in the last action of the second half and the game. City won 1–0 and sealed a fourth successive title.[35]

Details

Manchester City1–0Tottenham Hotspur
  • Laporte 82'
 Report
Attendance: 7,773[lower-alpha 1]
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
GK13United States Zack Steffen
RB2England Kyle Walker
CB3Portugal Rúben Dias
CB14Spain Aymeric LaporteYellow card 45'
LB27Portugal João Cancelo
CM17Belgium Kevin De Bruynedownward-facing red arrow 87'
CM25Brazil Fernandinho (c)Yellow card 59'downward-facing red arrow 84'
CM8Germany İlkay Gündoğan
RF26Algeria Riyad Mahrez
CF7England Raheem Sterling
LF47England Phil Foden
Substitutes:
GK31Brazil Ederson
DF6Netherlands Nathan Aké
DF11Ukraine Oleksandr Zinchenko
DF22France Benjamin Mendy
MF16Spain Rodriupward-facing green arrow 84'
MF20Portugal Bernardo Silvaupward-facing green arrow 87'
FW9Brazil Gabriel Jesus
FW10Argentina Sergio Agüero
FW21Spain Ferran Torres
Manager:
Spain Pep Guardiola
GK1France Hugo Lloris (c)
RB24Ivory Coast Serge Aurierdownward-facing red arrow 90'
CB4Belgium Toby Alderweireld
CB15England Eric Dier
LB3Spain Sergio ReguilónYellow card 27'
CM8England Harry Winks
CM5Denmark Pierre-Emile Højbjergdownward-facing red arrow 84'
RW27Brazil Lucas Mouradownward-facing red arrow 67'
AM18Argentina Giovani Lo Celsodownward-facing red arrow 67'
LW7South Korea Son Heung-min
CF10England Harry Kane
Substitutes:
GK12England Joe Hart
DF6Colombia Davinson Sánchez
DF25England Japhet Tanganga
MF11Argentina Erik Lamela
MF17France Moussa Sissokoupward-facing green arrow 67'
MF20England Dele Alliupward-facing green arrow 84'
MF28France Tanguy Ndombele
FW9Wales Gareth Baleupward-facing green arrow 67'
FW23Netherlands Steven Bergwijnupward-facing green arrow 90'
Manager:
England Ryan Mason

Man of the Match:
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)[1]

Assistant referees:[2]
Lee Betts (Norfolk)
Constantine Hatzidakis (Kent)
Fourth official:[2]
Peter Bankes (Liverpool)
Reserve assistant referee:[36]
Dan Robathan (Norfolk)
Video assistant referee:[2]
Andre Marriner (Birmingham)
Assistant video assistant referee:[2]
Adrian Holmes (West Riding)

Match rules[37]

Notes

  1. 1 2 The total number of fans allowed to attend the final was established at 8,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
  2. ↑ Originally set for 22 September 2020, the tie between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur was postponed after multiple Orient players tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.[16] On 25 September, it was confirmed that Tottenham had received a bye into the fourth round, due to Orient's inability to fulfil the fixture.[17]
  3. ↑ Each team was only given five opportunities to make substitutions, with a sixth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

References

  1. 1 2 "Report: Manchester City make history in Carabao Cup Final at Wembley". English Football League. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Carabao Cup Final: Match Officials confirmed". English Football League. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Carabao Cup Final to be rescheduled". English Football League. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "2020/21 season dates confirmed across the EFL". English Football League. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "EFL Cup final moved from February to April". BBC Sport. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. ↑ Ross, James M. (2 April 2020). "England - Football League Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  7. ↑ Watson, Chris (22 February 2021). "EFL hoping fans can attend Man City vs Tottenham Carabao Cup final". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Carabao Cup final to have 8,000 fans". BBC Sport. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "2,000 Spurs & Man City fans at final". BBC Sport. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Tottenham and Man City fans unite against EFL Cup final ticket allocation - Sports Mole". amp.sportsmole.co.uk. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Tottenham disabled fans' group hits out at "discrimination" over vulnerable fans - Sports Mole". amp.sportsmole.co.uk. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth: Liam Delap delighted with 'dream' debut". BBC Sport. 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Johnston, Neil (30 September 2020). "Burnley 0-3 Manchester City: Raheem Sterling scores twice in Carabao Cup". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Johnston, Neil (22 December 2020). "Arsenal 1-4 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola triumphs in battle with former assistant Mikel Arteta". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Stone, Simon (6 January 2021). "Man Utd 0-2 Man City: Pep Guardiola's side reach Carabao Cup final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Leyton Orient v Tottenham: Carabao Cup tie called off after positive coronavirus tests". BBC Sport. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. 1 2 "EFL statement: Leyton Orient v Tottenham Hotspur". English Football League. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Hafez, Shamoon (29 September 2020). "Carabao Cup: Tottenham 1-1 Chelsea (5-4 pens) - Spurs progress on spot-kicks". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Johnston, Neil (23 December 2020). "Stoke City 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur: Jose Mourinho's side one win from final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  20. ↑ McNulty, Phil (5 January 2021). "Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Brentford: Jose Mourinho reaches Carabao Cup final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Carabao Cup final: Man City vs Tottenham preview, team news, stats, kick-off time, live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "Live EFL Cup Final: Man C v Spurs". EFL Cup on Sky Sports. 25 April 2021. 30 & 143 minutes in. Sky. Sky Sports Football HD.
  23. ↑ "Carabao Cup on Quest". RadioTimes. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  24. ↑ "Schedule - Watch ESPN". ESPN.com. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  25. ↑ "EFL Cup Football 2020-21, Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur". 5 Live Sport. 25 April 2021. 60 minutes in. BBC. Radio 5 Live.
  26. ↑ "BBC Radio 5 live - Schedules, Sunday 25 April 2021". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  27. ↑ "BBC World Service Online - Schedules, Sunday 25 April 2021". BBC. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  28. ↑ "5 Live Sport - EFL Cup Football 2020-21 - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur". BBC. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "Man City v Tottenham LIVE commentary and latest score". Talksport. 25 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  30. ↑ "BBC Radio London Sport, 25/04/2021". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  31. ↑ "BBC Radio Manchester Sport: Big Match Commentary, League Cup final: Manchester City v Tottenham (25/04/2021)". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  32. ↑ "Spurs appoint Ryan Mason as interim manager until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  33. ↑ "Jose Mourinho: Tottenham sack manager after 17 months". London: BBC Sport. 19 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  34. ↑ "Kane, Aguero & De Bruyne could play at Wembley". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  35. 1 2 "Man City beat Spurs to lift Carabao Cup". BBC Sport. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  36. ↑ Mattick, Nathan (21 April 2021). "Carabao Cup Final Match Official Appointment 2021". The Referees' Association. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  37. ↑ "Regulations". EFL.com. English Football League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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