Goals and Highlights: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (2-1) in Carabao Cup Final

Assistant coach John Terry consoles Aston Villa's devastated playmaker Jack Graelish. Graelish, a playing for and captaining his boyhood club, is crushed by the close defeat.

@SquawkaNews

Before you drink the champagne, you get some in your eyes. No goggles. Don't wipe. Earn the burn.

🏆1970
🏆1976
🏆2014
🏆2016
🏆2018
🏆2019
🏆2020@ManCity add a 7th League Cup to their trophy cabinet.

Impressive 👏 pic.twitter.com/0CkBovC1Az

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 1, 2020

Full Time Manchester City 2-1 Aston Villa

Manchester City win the Carabao Cup Final after a hard fought 90 minutes against Aston Villa. With goals from Sergio Aguero and Rodri in the first half, City will walk the steps of Wembley for a third year in a row. Villa did pull a goal back just before half time, but it wasn't enough. 

The match opened up in the final stages with each side having at least a half chance, Manchester City with several including a few shots on target. But, they were unable to convert. 

Villa continued to apply pressure even as the game wore on. Bjorn Engels came agonizingly close to drawing level when he hit the post with two minutes remaining. 

City were deserved winners by dominating possession and having the better of opportunities on goal. 

Villa scrambling and sending in desperate crosses. City clearing one by one. The time ticks away

Mings fouls De Bruyne and breaks up a building attack

5 minutes of stoppage time

Save from Nyland! City go on the break and Bernardo Silva one times a shot straight at the keeper who got down quickly to save it.

Off the post!

Aston Villa come within inches of scoring. Engels heads a corner towards net and it rattles the woodwork. 

A huge sigh of relief for City and major letdown for Villa. 

Only 2 minutes remain with Villa down a goal.

Sterling cuts across the top of the 18 and forces a shot, skying it over the net.

Aguero limps off after the missed volley. Gabriel Jesus subs on.

So close from Aguero!

Bernardo Silva cuts to the byline and floats a cross back across the box. Aguero volleys it and hits the side netting. 

21 year old Keinan Davis on for Samatta

A moment of panic for Nyland! He bobbles a cross and almost allows Sterling to pounce and score. He recovers and avoids disaster.

The Silvas swap, Bernardo on for David

Nakamba with a two footed challenge. Although he gets the ball, it's reckless and he gets a yellow

Elmohamady and El Ghazi exit for Villa and on come Hourihane and Trezeguet

Elmohamady gets a yellow for a cynical foul

Graelish takes a free kick for Villa, but blasts it way over the far post for goal kick.

Foden plays in De Bruyne on the right side of the box. He crosses for Aguero right in front of the keeper, but it's cleared out for a throw by Villa

Yellow card to Rodri for a tactical foul on Douglas Luiz, stoping a counter attack.

De Bruyne enters the game in place of Gundogan

The first of three changes for City

Tempers starting to flare up. 

Sterling and Guilbert arguing moments ago. Then Sterling goes in with a hard tackle and receives a yellow. 

City free kick headed away by Mings right to Foden who shoots wide on the half volley

Get your popcorn ready. The second half is about to begin

The half ends after a fantastic 45 minutes. 

Manchester City controlled larges portions of the game leading to their two goals. 

The second City goal, a Rodri header from a corner, wasn't without controversy as the ball appeared to come off of City before going over the byline preceding the corner. However, VAR was not able to be used for that and the goal stood. 

Villa showed heart to fight back and take advantage of yet another John Stones miscue, scoring against the run of play before the half ended. 

Surely an exciting second 45 minutes is on the way. 

DON'T GO ANYWHERE

Samatta heads Villa back into the game. John Stones slips and allows El Ghazi to run on to the ball and send in the cross for the assist

City 2-1 Villa

Out of nowhere, #AVFC are back in it!

John Stones loses his footing and El Ghazi swings in a lovely cross which Samatta heads home!

Watch #AVFC v #MCFC in the #CarabaoCupFinal on Sky Sports Football and follow it here: https://t.co/mORPrF0iHX pic.twitter.com/5AekNsN64t

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 1, 2020

Another ball over the top to Foden. Cuts it back to Aguero, but a deflection falls right to Sterling. 

Shot blocked by Mings and out for a corner

Gundogan sends in a corner and Rodri rises above everyone for the goal

2-0 to City

Controversy at Wembley! #MCFC are awarded a corner when a goal kick should have been given and Rodri rises highest in the box to double their advantage.

Watch #AVFC v #MCFC in the #CarabaoCupFinal on Sky Sports Football and follow it here: https://t.co/mORPrF0iHX pic.twitter.com/u1lQwgKSlx

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 1, 2020

Aguero rockets a shot in, blocked by Engels. City dominating as of late. Another corner to the Cityzens

Sterling shoots wide of the net

Foden brings down a crossfield pass, cuts onto his left foot into the box and shoots just wide of the post. Shot tipped on the way out for a corner.

El Ghazi cuts into the box, but shoots right at Bravo for an easy save

Rodri with a beautifully floated ball into the box, Foden heads down to Aguero and Aguero powers it home with his right foot into the goal

City up 1

Patience pays off for #MCFC!

Phil Foden nods it down to Sergio Aguero who breaks the deadlock inside 20 minutes with Man City's first chance! 🔓

Watch #AVFC v #MCFC in the #CarabaoCupFinal on Sky Sports Football and follow it here: https://t.co/mORPrF0iHX pic.twitter.com/Br917kb8Nu

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 1, 2020

Good combination play between Silva and Sterling and Aguero, but nothing comes of it. Ball goes out for a goal kick

Cross into the box, Stones heads over the goal.

City come quickly on the attack. Zinchenko shot blocked and goes out for a corner

Graelish free kick into the box comfortably headed out by City

Man City corner from Gundogan. Rodri heads it out past the byline for a goal kick.

Elmohamedy crosses and El Ghazi heads it off the corner! Villa close to open the game

Targett sends in a corner. Bravo clears it from the box with a punch

The teams are out!

LET'S DO THIS! 👊

🔵 #ManCity #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/5AIRFAmqjt

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2020

@IsabellaK2z with a great as the teams come out

Spotlight on Sergio 🔦

Wembley warm-ups ➡️ in progress

🔵 #ManCity #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/ZIpSVLFdYQ

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2020

@McArdleJaney and her boy are ready for to watch Aston Villa

@CityzenKriss is at Wembley and excited for the game

Aston Villa are out for warm ups and the crowd begins to fill the stadium.

Time to warm up!#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/J7NpiFR90Q

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) March 1, 2020

Very strong team from manager Dean Smith. Expect a 4-3-3.

This is your Aston Villa team to face Manchester City in the #CarabaoCupFinal. 👊#AVFC pic.twitter.com/u9DcT4zJ6S

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 1, 2020

🚨 TEAM NEWS IS IN! 🚨

XI | Bravo, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Foden, D Silva (C), Sterling, Aguero.

SUBS | Ederson, G Jesus, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mendy, Mahrez, Otamendi.

📋 @HaysWorldwide
🔵 #ManCity #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/kH4Crx2TC9

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2020

Our coverage begins now!

Starting XIs will be out in about 15 minutes

Simply glorious. 🤩 #EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/X2FIFQ3iDs

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) March 1, 2020

Starting goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been out with a long term injury and will miss this game. 

Midfielder John McGinn is out with an ankle injury.

Striker Wesley, out for the season, will also miss this match.

It's been a rough few weeks for the Villans. They enter the final after losing their last three matches, all in the Premier League. And because of it, they sit one point above the relegation zone. 

A shocking League Cup triumph would be a bright spot in dark times. 

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith guided his side through a tough draw, only facing lower league opposition once, Crewe Alexandra in the 2nd round. 

After, they beat Premier League sides Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolves, Liverpool, and Leicester City over the two legged semifinal. 

Aston Villa reached the Carabao Cup Final for the first time since 2010, where they lost to Manchester United 2-1.

Villa have won the competition on five occasions - 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, and 1996.

City manager Pep Guardiola has his side in a good run of form entering the match, having won their previous three matches in all competitions, allowing only one goal in the process. 

Man City will be without defender Aymeric Laporte who exited Wednesday's Champions League win over Real Madrid with an injury. 

Leroy Sane's injury from the beginning of the season will also cause him to miss this game. 

To reach the final, Manchester City overcame the likes of lower tier sides Preston North End and Oxford United in earlier rounds. They also upended Premier League side Southampton and beat crosstown rivals Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate over the two semifinal legs.

Manchester City have reached the final of the Carabao Cup, also known as the EFL Cup or League Cup, for a third season in a row. 

Last season, they beat Chelsea on penalties after a 0-0 draw. 

Two years ago, the 2017-18 season, City beat Arsenal 3-0.

Wembley, England's national stadium located in London, will host the two Premier League sides as they face each other for the third time this season across all competitions. 

Kick off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EST with the game available to watch on ESPN+, ESPN's streaming service.

What's up everyone. Welcome to VAVEL's coverage of the 2020 Carabao Cup Final: Manchester City v Aston Villa.

I'm Drew Pells and I'll be your host for the game providing prematch news, starting line ups, and play by play coverage.