Capital One Cup Final 2016 Preview: The Last Five League Cup Finals
As Liverpool and Manchester City gear up for Sunday’s Capital One Cup Final showpiece under the arch of Wembley Stadium, here at SillySeason, we will take a trip down memory lane to digest the last five League Cup Finals played at the home of English football.
2015: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea’s first silverware of their double winning campaign of last season came on Sunday 1st March 2015 – as Jose Mourinho’s Blues comfortably dispatched Tottenham Hotspur, coming away from Wembley with a 2-0 victory, in what was a repeat of the 2008 final, which Spurs won.
With a minute left in the first-half, Chelsea opened the scoring, when Willian’s free-kick deflected into the path of captain John Terry, who’s stabbed effort took a harsh touch of Eric Dier to beat Hugo Lloris from close-range.
The second-half was just 11 minutes old when Cesc Fabregas found fellow Spain international Diego Costa, the forward’s shot across the face of goal was diverted beyond his own keeper by Kyle Walker.
It was job done for Chelsea, despite late pressure from Spurs, John Terry lifted the trophy aloft, in what was Mourinho’s first trophy since his return to west London.
2014: Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland
Manchester City were triumphant in the 2014 League Cup final, beating Sunderland, courtesy of three second-half strikes, having previously trailed in the game.
Fabio Borini edged the Black Cats into a 10th minute lead, as he angled a smart drive past the grasp of Costal Pantilimon, who of course would ultimately sign for the Stadium of Light side later that summer.
Sunderland went into the break with their advantage still in-tact. That difference remained in place until the 55th minute of the match, after Yaya Toure’s curled effort from 25-yards nestled into the top corner of Vito Mannone’s post, a fine goal which hauled City level.
A minute later, Manuel Pellegrini’s side found a second goal – Samir Nasri connected with Kolorov’s cross, before he arrowed an attempt with the outside of his boot past a static Mannone.
Jesus Navas swept home a third and deciding goal in stoppage time for City, to confirm the win against Gus Poyet’s runners-up.
2013: Bradford City 0-5 Swansea City
Perhaps the most unlikely of finals to be looked at, the then League Two side Bradford City beat Arsenal and Aston Villa to reach Wembley – only for top-flight class to prevail, with Swansea winning 5-0 against the ten-man Bantams.
Goals in the opening half from Nathan Dyer and Michu sent the South Wales side on their way to a first ever trophy – strikes which were added to by Dyer netting his brace, and two goals from Jonathan de Guzman.
In what was a harsh reflection on Bradford’s efforts in the competition, the Yorkshiremen also had goalkeeper Matt Duke red carded – as skipper Garry Monk lifted the cup with Ashley Williams.
2012: Cardiff City 2-2 Liverpool (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties)
The 2012 showpiece was contested by Championship side Cardiff City and Liverpool at Wembley in the February of that year. The Reds prevailed by a 3-2 scoreline on penalties after the 120 minutes had concluded in a stalemate, with the score level at 2-2.
Things did not start well for Kenny Dalglish’s men when Joe Mason ran onto Kenny Miller’s pass from the right side of the box, to shoot low in-between the legs of Pepe Reina, to give the Bluebirds a 19th minute lead.
In their response, Liverpool were unable to find an equliser in the first-half, despite going close through Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, who both had attempts saved by Tom Heaton.
It took 108 minutes, an extra time for the next goal to come, Dirk Kuyt’s speculative daisycutter was diverted back out to the Dutchman, who fired past Heaton at his front post, much to the delight of the Merseyside contingent.
But the drama was not finished there, Ben Turner profited from a flick on by Aron Gunnarsson to beat Reina and restore parity by sending the game to a shoot-out.
Liverpool won the penalty shoot-out after Anthony Gerrard copied his cousin Steven’s effort, by missing from 12-yards – the cup was going back to Anfield for an eighth time.
The 2012 tournament was also the last to be sponsored by alcoholic beverage producer, Carling.
2011: Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham City
Birmingham City provided an upset when they won the League Cup in February 2011 – beating Arsenal 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.
In an all Premier League affair, Birmingham didn’t follow the script of the day, and were in front after 28 minutes when Nikola Zigic looped his header past Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal, after Roger Johnson won the initial header from a corner.
Robin Van Persie equalised for the Gunners ten minutes later, volleying Andrei Arshavin’s cross with his right-foot past Ben Foster.
Blues clinched the win in the final minute of additional time at the end of the game, as substitute Obafemi Martins reacting first to make Arsenal pay for a mix up between Laurent Koscielny and Szczesny from a punted ball up field to poke into an empty net.
Capital One Cup Final Info
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Capital Cup final date: 28 Feb 2016
Capital Cup final kick-off time: 4:30 PM (UK)
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