Sunday 26th brought us the carling cup final between Liverpool and Cardiff, the end result inevitable with Liverpool winning 3-2 on penalties. With the likes of Gerrard, Skrtel, Kuyt and Suarez Liverpool, (on paper) seemed to have the ability to outplay Championship side Cardiff with their eyes closed. But with credit due to Malky Mackay and his bluebirds, they dominated the premier league side challenging for that fourth place.
With Liverpool’s thirst for silverware reaching a high, it seemed that the cup final against their championship competitors Cardiff would bring them their first trophy since the penalty shoot out success under Benitez’s management at the 2006 FA Cup, and it did just that, but the bluebirds were more of a threat than first considered.
The first half brought a shock for every football fan with the underdogs Cardiff taking the lead after 19 minutes with Mason finding space behind Enrique to find the back of the net with a low finish through the legs of Reina. Cardiff’s defence proved wonders and we have to spare a moment for Heaton, the keeper with everything to offer as he seemed unstoppable in front of the Reds.
Liverpool’s dominance in the first half did nothing for their goal scoring, and at half time the score line still stood at a unbelievable 1-0 to Cardiff. We can only imagine Daglish’s half time talk to the lads in red and it worked, with Skrtels 60th minute equaliser, slipping past the clutches of Cardiff’s super Heaton. With a substation of Dutch international Kuyt brought the third goal of the game in the 108thminute sending the supporters into celebration frenzy.
And then, perhaps due to a sheer lack of premier league defending from the Liverpool side in the final minutes of extra time, Ben turner took the game to penalties with his equaliser just minutes before the end of extra time.
The underdogs throughout the game thoroughly deserved to win the cup with their determination and stamina against the premier league team, yet it seemed inevitable that Pepe Reina, renowned for his powerful saves would be Liverpool’s hero, yet with the penalties from both sides lacking power (and in the case of — direction) it was the goalpost that won Liverpool the game.
With all due respect I think we should take a moment to reflect on the horror and pain that must have been felt by Cardiff defender Anthony Gerrard (yep reds own Steven Gerrard’s cousin), who in a cruel twist of fate stepped up to the penalty that on missing won Liverpool the game, and the rest of the team who through sheer resilience and strength throughout the final, showed the footballing nation why they have the potential to rise to the premier league in the upcoming seasons.
With this I give my respect to Mackay and his team for a truly inspirational performance at Wembley, and maybe next time they can return with silverware of their own.
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