Boyhood Man City fan to Wembley winner - O'Reilly's fairytale continues
Nico O'Reilly has a tattoo of the Manchester area code etched on his arm and the Englishman will be the pride of the city following his man-of-the-match showing in his side's brilliant Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal on Sunday. Academy product O'Reilly won the game for City with a pair of second-half headers into the goal in front of his club's ecstatic supporters. For a boyhood City fan to score twice at Wembley Stadium, this fairytale story has produced an unforgettable moment for the player, manager Pep Guardiola and supporters alike.
O'Reilly was drafted into the City team last season to aid the squad's injury crisis in defence and has grabbed his opportunity - he now gets his hands on major silverware after delivering a performance that he will never forget. "Unbelievable feeling," O'Reilly told Sky Sports. "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.
" Guardiola said of O'Reilly's impact: "He has been so surprising so far even for me, the season he has done so far has been extraordinary. " Guardiola's dance of joy as Man City pile pressure on desolate Arsenal EFL Cup final: Reaction as O'Reilly double gives Man City Wembley win over Arsenal Cometh the hour, cometh the man - with the '0161' phone code inked on his body, O'Reilly came calling on the big stage when City needed a hero to step up. His first finish was the easiest goal he is likely to score in his career, stooping close to the goalline to head in after Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled the ball into his path.
The second just four minutes later was a brilliantly-placed header from Matheus Nunes' cross, effectively sealing victory for a jubilant Guardiola who performed a jig of delight on the touchline. O'Reilly took the adulation of the City fans after his goals and it will be a double celebration this weekend after turning 21 on Saturday. The only players younger than O'Reilly to score twice in the final of this competition were 20-year-olds Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2006 and Liverpool's Ronnie Whelan back in 1982.