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Liverpool’s road to Wembley was never an easy one, with only ONE home match played in the semi-finals. Victories against Exeter City, Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester City saw Kenny Dalglish and his Reds through to the final at Wembley; a final Reds fans desperately deserved.
Coming off the back of one of the worst seasons in Liverpool’s recent history, the Reds set out with a goal of bringing home England’s cups, and finishing as high as possible in the league. While their league ambitions have been a bit unlucky and inconsistent, their cup ventures have produced joy all around. With a cup double on the cards with the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place in March, the Reds looked to bag their first bit of silverware upon their first trip to Wembley. While it was the Reds first trip to Wembley, Cardiff City were in an all too familiar place. The Welsh-side had lost their last match at Wembley; 3-2 two seasons ago against Blackpool.
The Reds opened up Wembley in style through the opening 15 minutes, with loud and proud renditions of “Fields of Anfield Road” being sung throughout the stadium. It was the Bluebirds, however, that would capitalize first.
Joe Mason sliced through the Liverpool defence and slotted home to give the Championship-side the lead 1-0. The Reds would have a few chances of their own however, but, like their story in the league, nothing would come to show for it.
One Red stood out amongst the rest, that being Stewart Downing. Downing’s season has been one of “ups and downs” but his performance at Wembley was one to be proud of, and one that justifies his £20 million price-tag. The former Aston Villa man set out with a mission, and did not disappoint. If not for some valiant defending by Malky Mackay’s side, Liverpool could have bagged the trophy at half-time. That wasn’t the case.
1-0 down at half-time, the Reds needed a change. Jordan Henderson had vastly underperformed in the first half, and had to make way for Craig Bellamy. The result was almost instant, with Martin Skrtel latching onto a Luis Suarez header that glanced off the post. The Slovakian latched onto the ball and slammed home giving Liverpool just the spark they needed, but Cardiff proved to be resilient.
As resilient as they were, Liverpool looked the closest to scoring. When time started winding down, the final whistle imminent, Liverpool began to relax their muscles in preparation for another half-hour of football. It nearly cost them dearly. Kenny Miller, who had looked dangerous all game, nearly scored at the death. After finding himself unmarked on the outside of the box, the Scottish international rifled a shot just over the bar, leaving Kopites hearts in their mouths, and Cardiff fans hearts on the floor.
Extra-time provided both sides with even more drama. With both sides unable to get on the score-sheet in the first half of extra time, the travelling Kop sprang to their feet. With both sides running on fumes, one man, whose work-rate can amount for that of an entire side, would look to score the winner; Dirk Kuyt. The Dutchman, who has found his time at Anfield limited this season, came off the bench in Kenny Dalglish’s final move. Again, the move looked genius. Receiving the ball in midfield, Kuyt made a blistering run past two Cardiff City defenders and took a shot. While his first attempt was pitiful, his next would be almost legendary. Kuyt latched onto his own rebound in a swinging volley, sending past keeper Tom Heaton, and sending Liverpool fans world-wide into hysteria. The fairy-tale ending Liverpool had achieved became “almost” achieved though, with just two minutes left in extra-time.
Kuyt again became a hero in a Cardiff blitz of three corners, clearing off the line in the second attempt. The third corner was sent in though with some venom, and Kuyt’s valiant defending was overpowered with Ben Turner sending the Welsh side into a penalty shootout.
As Steven Gerrard said, this epic encounter was always going to end in bitter disappointment for one of them. But this was football at its cruelest as well as its most dramatic for the Gerrard family. The Liverpool captain was the first to step up for the Reds in the shootout, and after scoring a penalty in the 2006 FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, Steven would not get his name on the score-sheet at Wembley. Gerrard sent his penalty soaring to the top corner, but was denied by Heaton in one of the most brilliant penalty saves the game has seen. Kenny Miller was up next. The Scot, who has scored decisive penalties before, sent his crashing into the post, keeping the scores level at 0-0. What would follow would be an epic sequence.
After Adam sent his penalty to the moon, Don Cowie put the Bluebirds ahead. Dirk Kuyt would equalise, and Rudy Gestede, arguably the most tired man on the pitch, sent his off the post as well. Stewart Downing, who had been brilliant all game, tucked his neatly into the corner of the net. Peter Whittingham and Glen Johnson would both make theirs, leaving one Anthony Gerrard with the fate of the Carling Cup on his shoulders. The Cardiff No. 6 missed wide, sending the Reds into pandemonium.
In front of the owners, in front of the fans, neither side disappointed. Cardiff City showed their Premier League credentials, while the Reds have gotten back to being what the world knows them as; winners. The “Luis Suarez affair” has marred the club for months, but a win at Wembley may just be the catalyst needed to send the Reds into a new golden era. With a Carling Cup in the bag, Kenny Dalglish joins Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho on the list of managers owning a “clean-sweep” of domestic trophies. After a long, long wait, Liverpool and the Kopites have their Wembley medals and memories. If it’s anything to go by, the last time Liverpool won the Carling Cup on a penalty shoot-out, the FA Cup followed it to Anfield three months later. If you’re still not convinced, the King has stated, “We’re hungry for more.”
Tags: Andy Carroll, Anthony Gerrard, Cardiff City, Carling Cup, Carling Cup final, Craig Bellamy, Kenny Dalglish, Kenny Miller, Liverpool, Luis Suarez, Malky Mackay, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing, Tom Heaton, Wembley Stadium
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