Carabao Cup hero Nico O’Reilly in disbelief after leading Manchester City to win over Arsenal
Manchester City won the Carabao Cup with two goals from Nico O’Reilly who turned 21 just a day before the win over Arsenal from Wembly Stadium.
It will be a night to remember for Nico O’Rielly. Turning 21 on Saturday will be the second best this that happened to him this weekend after Manchester City’s win on Sunday.
Weekend of dreams for local hero
The homegrown kid from Manchester was the hero at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon. He scored two second half goals to down Arsenal and claim the Carabao Cup. After the match he sat down with the Sky Sports and reflected on a night that he will never forget.
“Unbelievable feeling. To win a final, to beat this team we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today,” said O’Reilly
This comes on the back of his 21st birthday and it appears the wish he made as he blew out the candles came true. “Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.”
The former academy player who rose through the ranks and became a fixture in Pep Guardiola’s XI had his entire family in the crowd to watch his spectacular performance. ”My whole family came down today. They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can’t wait to celebrate with them,” said O’Reilly.
Can City catch Arsenal in league?
With the match all square through hour, Guardiola urged his defenders to push up with control of possession in the opening quarter of an hour of the match. O’Reilly was in the box to pounce on a mistake made by Arsenal keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Just four minutes later Mateus Nunes served in a perfect ball into the box which was nodded home for the 2-0.
That would be more than enough for the Citizens to defend for the final half hour from Wembley. There were a couple shots that tested back up keeper James Tafford, but was up to the test and on a couple occasions got some assistance from the woodwork.
The two goals for O’Reilly may come as a surprise for some, but he was brought up playing in the final third and creating chances. ”Since I was a kid I always played in midfield, I was always arriving in the box and scoring goals. To bring it in at senior level and the highest level, it’s good for me and adds goals to my game. A great feeling,” said O’Reilly.
Manchester City now have the Premier League and the FA Cup to focus on for the rest of the season. They were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the round of 16, but this could be a moral blow landed by City on the league leaders Arsenal who lead Guardiola’s side by nine points, but also have also played one more match.
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