Cardiff City vs Liverpool 2-2 Highlights - Liverpool Won Carling Cup Final
Liverpoolbeat Cardiff City in Carling Cup final in a penalties shootout, Liverpool won 3-2 in the shoot-out after Steven Gerrard's cousinAnthony missed the decisive kick.
His was one of five failures from the penalty spot - Steven Gerrard, KennyMiller, Charlie Adam and Rudy Gestede also could not convert.
The drama capped off an amazing final that had seen Cardiffequalise twominutes from the end of extra time after it looked like Dirk Kuyt had handedLiverpool the trophy.
His was one of five failures from the penalty spot - Steven Gerrard, KennyMiller, Charlie Adam and Rudy Gestede also could not convert.
The drama capped off an amazing final that had seen Cardiffequalise twominutes from the end of extra time after it looked like Dirk Kuyt had handedLiverpool the trophy.
Joe Mason opened the scoring on 19 minutes before Martin Skrtel levelled justbefore the hour mark.
Kuyt looked to have broken Cardiff's marvellous resistance in the 108thminute, but Ben Turner scrambled in a 118th-minute goal to take the tie topenalties.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay brought captain Mark Hudson back afterinjury, and the centre-back marshalled a heroic defensive performance. Thoughnot 100 per cent fit, Hudson lasted 99 minutes while his centre-back partnerTurner was equally exceptional.
Liverpool managed 19 corners to Cardiff's three, and totted up nearly 50goal attempts, but saw their efforts largely thwarted by a succession of blocksand tackles from the Championship side.
Glen Johnson almost got the game off to a spectacular start, curling a 25-yardshot onto the underside of the crossbar, with Steven Gerrard blazing therebound over.
Liverpool dominated possession, but struggled to break Cardiffdown. LuisSuarez's touch was unusually clunking - the Uruguayan misplaced several passesand his communication with strike partner Andy Carroll left much to be desired.
Though Suarez twisted and turned with his usual elusiveness, he lackedprecision, personifying a nervy Liverpool display.
On 19 minutes, Cardiff were in front through Mason. Jose Enrique wascaught napping as Miller found his strike partner with a neat pass, and the20-year-old finished through Pepe Reina's legs.
Liverpool were stung into action, but struggled to work Cardiffkeeper TomHeaton. Carroll's muscular presence did not translate into accurate heading orshooting, while Jordan Henderson took an airshot when teed up by excellent playfrom Stewart Downing.
Adam slashed a shot wide from the edge of the box, while Suarez did testHeaton, but without much conviction, striking the ball with the outside of hisright boot.
On 44 minutes, the breakthrough should have come when Gerrard curled adelicious free-kick into the path of Daniel Agger. Had the Daneheaded the ball half a yard either side of Heaton it would have been one-all,but he nodded straight at the grateful Cardiff keeper.
Just before the hour mark, Craig Bellamy came off the bench toreplace the disappointing Henderson.
The former Cardiff man has been arguably Liverpool's player of theseason so far, and it was a huge surprise to see him left on the bench.
Following his introduction, he tore into the opposition with his usual gusto.Seconds later, the leveller came, though Bellamy was not involved.
Downing's corner was headed goalwards by Carroll, then diverted onto the postby Suarez. Skrtel reacted fastest to seize the rebound and slam the ball lowinto the net.
The Slovak nearly doubled his tally on 74 minutes when an aimless header loopedinto his path and he struck a powerful volley that Heaton saved smartly.
As time ticked down, Liverpool pressed for a winner. Heaton saved from Adam,while Suarez and Gerrard also squandered presentable chances.
However, the best opportunity fell to Miller, who found himself clean throughafter a quickly-taken Cardiff free-kick. However, the Scot smashedhis shot over from eight yards.
Into extra time, and Suarez's toils in front of goal continued with a lowrasping shot and a header cleared off the line by Andrew Taylor.
Carroll headed just wide and Bellamy fired over, before Kuyt struck - theDutchman saw a poor shot half-cleared, but reacted quickly and deposited therebound past Heaton into the net.
There was surely no way back for a Cardiff side that looked out ontheir feet - yet back they came. Kuyt had to clear off the line before Turnerbundled in the equaliser.
However, Cardiff's tired legs failed them in the shootout, with three oftheir five takers failing even to test Reina.
Liverpool did it the hard way, but their maiden visit to the new Wembleystadium ended in success and they pick up a trophy for the first time sincelifting the 2006 FA Cup.
Carling CupFinal Match Results and Highlights
Cardiff City [2-2] Liverpool
19' [1 : 0] Joe Mason
60' [1 : 1] Martin Skrte
108'[1 : 2] Dirk Kuyt
118'[2 : 2] Ben Turner
Liverpool 2-2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City [2-2] Liverpool
19' [1 : 0] Joe Mason
60' [1 : 1] Martin Skrte
108'[1 : 2] Dirk Kuyt
118'[2 : 2] Ben Turner
Liverpool 2-2 Cardiff City
AFTERPENALTIES : [3-2]
Liverpool 2(3)-2(2) Cardiff City [5-4]
Liverpool won The carling Cup Finale After getting result from the PENALTIES
Liverpool 2(3)-2(2) Cardiff City [5-4]
Liverpool won The carling Cup Finale After getting result from the PENALTIES
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