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| Liverpool's first piece of silverware in 6 years |
Liverpool beat Cardiff 3-2 on penalties (2-2 AET) to lift the Carling Cup for a record 8th time on Sunday afternoon. Cardiff took the lead through Joe Mason, before Martin Skrtel hit back after the break. Dirk Kuyt looked to have sealed the victory in extra time, but Ben Turner broke Liverpool hearts in the last minute to send the tie to penalties.
Kenny Dalglish made one change to the team that ran out comprehensive 6-1 winners against Brighton, Daniel Agger replacing Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence. Craig Bellamy missed out on a start against the club who he supported as a child, and where he had a loan spell last season.
It wasn’t long until Liverpool threatened to open the scoring. Glen Johnson struck the cross bar in the opening minutes.
After much of the early Liverpool pressure, Cardiff shocked Liverpool supporters by taking the lead. Kenny Miller slipped through Joe Mason, who tucked the ball through Pepe Reina’s legs to send their fans into ecstasy.
The Reds looked to draw level instantly. Jose Enrique curled a shot wide with his weaker right foot, while Charlie Adam’s shot narrowly missed the target.
Stuart Downing’s clever trickery left Kevin McNaughton in knots, before sending in an inviting cross, which Henderson failed to make contact with and Gerrard hoofing his attempt off target.
Daniel Agger was next to come close to levelling the scores on the stroke of half time. Gerrard whipped in a cross, which the Dane headed straight at the Cardiff ‘keeper.
Liverpool were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half. Suarez forced Heaton into another save to deny the Uruguayan.
The number 7 was soon at it again, tricking his was through the Cardiff penalty area, before a last ditch tackle from McNaughton denied him a shot at goal.
A change was needed. Dalglish responded by sending on the on looking Craig Bellamy in place of Jordan Henderson.
The substitution impact was immediate. Minutes after coming on Liverpool were level. Downing’s cross was nodded towards goal by Carroll towards Suarez, whose header was denied by the post, but Martin Skrtel followed up and slipped the ball through a crowd of defenders into the back of the net.
Liverpool pushed to find a goal that would give them the lead. Skrtel coming close again with a volley from an acute angle that was kept out by Heaton.
The ‘keeper was called into action again, tipping Downing’s fierce effort past the post.
As the game seemed to be going into extra-time, Kenny Miller was presented with a glorious opportunity to snatch a late winner. A well-worked free kick found the Scot in behind the Liverpool defence, but could only blaze his attempt over the bar.
Into extra-time, Heaton was, not for the first time, called into action. Tipping Suarez long shot around the post. The Uruguayan then had his header cleared off the post by Taylor.
Craig Bellamy then curled an effort past the top corner, before Glen Johnson’s effort flew off target.
The prolonged pressure finally came to fruition in the 108th minute. Substitute Dirk Kuyt’s initial shot was dragged wide, but the Dutchman found the back of the net with the round, sending the Liverpool fans into jubilation. Kenny Dalglish had one hand on the trophy.
Into the dying minutes of the game, Kuyt then pulled off heroics in his own box, clearing a Cardiff header off the line. But, from the following corner Ben Turner converted to level the tie at 2-2 and send the game to penalties. The scenes at Wembley were a stark contrast, Cardiff supporters ecstatic, while there was heartbreak for the Liverpool fans.
Gerrard and Adam missed Liverpool’s two opening penalties either side of Kenny Miller cracking his effort off the post. Don Cowie converted his penalty to give Cardiff a 1-0 lead in the shootout.
Kuyt slotted his penalty to his left, while Rudy Gestede struck the post to leave it level at 1-1.
Stewart Downing and Peter Whittingham scored the next penalties, followed by Glen Johnson finding the top corner, leaving Anthony Gerrard to convert his.
The cousin of Steven Gerrard dragged his penalty wide to give Liverpool their 8th League Cup final and 6-year wait for silverware, over.
Sikander Najib @AttackoftheKop
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