LONDON: Manchester City’s four-year reign as English League Cup titleholders is over.
City lost 5-3 to West Ham United in a penalty shootout in the last 16 on Wednesday after the game finished goalless after 90 minutes at the London Stadium.
Phil Foden struck City’s first penalty wide and it proved costly as West Ham converted all of their spot kicks, with Said Benrahma scoring the decisive fifth.
That condemned City to their first elimination in the League Cup since losing to Manchester United at the same stage five years ago. Pep Guardiola’s deep squad had won the competition every season since the 2017-18 campaign, with six of the last eight editions going to City.
“Nothing is eternal,” Guardiola said. “We fought a lot to win and win this competition. Today it’s finished, and next season well be back to win it again.”
It marked a brilliant Manchester double for West Ham, who eliminated United at Old Trafford in the last 32.
Liverpool, with 11 changes to the team which beat United 5-0 in the league on Sunday, also moved into the last eight of the competition with a 2-0 victory at Championship (second tier) Preston North End thanks to second-half goals from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi.
Origi’s goal in the 84th minute was the highlight. The Belgium striker reacted to a loose ball just outside the six-yard box by flicking it with his heel over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Leicester City edged out Brighton and Hove Albion 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.
The Foxes twice pounced on Brighton gifting possession away in dangerous areas to take the lead through Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman in the first-half. Adam Webster and Enock Mwepu levelled for the Seagulls, but Mwepu and Neal Maupay failed to beat Danny Ward from the spot.
Tottenham Hotspur also progressed after a 1-0 win at Burnley with Lucas Moura grabbing the 68th minute winner with a header from a Emerson Royal cross in a disappointing game.
Brentford reached the last eight for the second consecutive season with a 2-1 win at Stoke City thanks to first-half goals from Sergi Canos and Ivan Toney.
Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2021
