Last season, Liverpool lived their dream in Istanbul. This year, they did it in the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. After a thrilling (and heart-stopping) 3-3 draw with West Ham United, Liverpool won the "greatest competition in English football" for the 7th time after a penalty shootout, where Jose Reina wrote his name into Liverpool folklore when he went from zero to hero.

With Xabi Alonso passing a late fitness test on his ankle ligaments, Liverpool looked to field their strongest line-up against the Hammers. Never mind that West Ham got the "lucky" hotel, where the recent cup winners have stayed, Liverpool were looking to win the trophy as a highlight to their successful season so far.

Both teams started the match very tentatively, with nerves settling much later into the game. Early in the match, passes were going awry, and players were taking longer than usual to get used to the feel of the pitch. West Ham were the quicker team off the starting blocks though, and a mistake from Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher and possibly Jose Reina combined cost Liverpool the first goal.

Alonso looked to square the ball to the left flank, however his pass fell short. His pass was intercepted by Benayoun who got it to Dean Ashton. Ashton then played a beautiful throughball to the right flank for Lionel Scaloni, who drilled a cross into the Liverpool box. Jamie Carragher came back to meet it for what looked like a routine clearance, but a late call, possibly, from Jose Reina, made Carragher hesitate, and the ball bounced off his left leg into the bottom corner of the net as he tried to get out of the way. West Ham were 1-0 up through a freak goal, and Carra was devastated.

Liverpool looked to stamp their authority on the match, but their defence looked exposed when up against West Ham's quick and powerful counter-attacking. West Ham were soon 2-0 up when Matthew Etherington dribbled from the left flank, tricked Sami Hyypia and tried a shot despite Finnan and Gerrard's efforts to stop him from getting his shot in. The ball went under Gerrard's tackle towards Reina for what looked like a routine stop, but the Liverpool goalkeeper fumbled the ball into the path of Ashton, who could hardly believe his luck as he slotted the ball under Reina into the back of the net. Another gift from Liverpool, and the Cup looked well and truly lost.

Liverpool needed to respond, and it was Steven Gerrard who was the who orchestrated the comeback. Liverpool had the ball in the net through Peter Crouch's neat finish after a wonderful ball by Gerrard, but it was wrongly ruled offside.

That was not going to faze Gerrard though, and he produced a similar ball later for Djibril Cisse just a minute later, who, without breaking his stride, produced a beautiful volley that saw the ball go into the bottom corner of the net. 2-1 to West Ham and the Reds were back in it.

After half time, Liverpool worked hard for the equaliser, but were hampered by an injury to Harry Kewell, arguably one of Liverpool's maestros in attack. Kewell now has had a torrid hat-trick of finals, each of which he has come off injured. The League Cup final in 2004, the Champions League final in 2005 and the FA Cup Final in 2006. Morientes came on as Liverpool searched for the vital second goal.

West Ham nearly went 3-1 up, as a superb cross by Etherington saw Harewood try a shot that was blocked by Reina. Benayoun was there for the follow up, but Reina blocked his attempt as well. A superb double save from Reina to keep the Reds in the game.


Liverpool responded after that and a lob whipped in by Xabi Alonso saw Crouch head the ball back into space for Steven Gerrard, who steamed in and struck a spectacular volley that rocketed into the top corner of the net. No chance for Shaka Hislop, and Liverpool were back in it. 2-2! Gerrard has now scored in four major finals, the UEFA Cup final in 2001, the League Cup final in 2002, the Champions League final in 2005 and the FA Cup final in 2006.

The Reds then pushed for the winner, but another freak goal from West Ham saw them go 3-2 up in the 64th minute. Paul Konchesky looked to cross the ball from the left flank, but by some freak of nature and unbeliveable luck, the ball lobbed over Reina and looped into the top corner of the Liverpool goal. Reina's fault? He should gotten back to his line quicker, even though he was expecting a cross. Can you believe it? Poor technique from Konchesky, and he STILL scores. At this time you could not blame Liverpool fans for wondering whether Lady Luck was a West Ham supporter. Liverpool had scored two beauties, but West Ham were still ahead through three freak goals.

Liverpool looked well and truly beaten and although they tried to push for yet another equaliser, West Ham decided to park a bus in front of their goal and Liverpool could not find their way through. Cue Steven Gerrard, Captain Fantastic of Liverpool.

When all looked lost, just minutes away from a West Ham victory, a half-clearance from West Ham bobbled into space, Gerrard steamrollered in once more and this time, from 35 yards, stuck an unbelievable, magical shot that swerved past Shaka Hislop into the bottom corner. In the 91st minute, a moment of magic from Gerrard pulled Liverpool from the brink.

West Ham could not believe it. Liverpool were coming back at them again and again despite their best efforts to win it. Remember, Liverpool had not led in the match at any point in time. West Ham nearly won it however, as Nigel Reo-Coker's header looked to loop into the top corner of the net, only for Reina to jump backward and tip the header onto the post. The ball bounced out and Hyypia mis-kicked it to Marlon Harewood, who, hampered by an injury to his ankle, mis-kicked as well and shot wide with his left foot.

The match went to extra time and the players were tired, exhausted, with many of them cramping up or getting injuries. There was to be no goal in extra time, and the match would go to penalties.

Dietmar Hamann was the first to step up. He made no mistake, shooting it into the top corner. 1-0 to Liverpool.

Bobby Zamora took the first penalty for West Ham, but saw it saved by Reina. 1-0 to Liverpool.

Sami Hyypia was the next to step up for Liverpool. He saw his penalty saved by Shaka Hislop. 1-0 to Liverpool.

Teddy Sheringham made no mistake of his penalty as he struck it into the top corner. 1-1.

Steven Gerrard blasted his penalty into the top corner as well, no chance for Shaka Hislop. 2-1 to Liverpool.

Paul Konchesky did not have as much luck with his penalty as he did with his freak goal. Reina saved his weak attempt down the middle. 2-1 to Liverpool.

Riise also shot his penalty down the middle, but sheer power saw it beat Shaka Hislop. 3-1 to Liverpool. If Reina saved the next penalty Liverpool would win the Cup.


And save it he did, diving low to his right to punch Anton Ferdinand's penalty away. Liverpool had done it! They had won 3-1 on penalties. It was a thoroughly deserved victory as the Reds would not lie down against West Ham's onslaught and unbelievable luck. Rafael Benitez has now brought 2 trophies to Liverpool in 3 seasons, will the Premier League title be next? He will definitely try.

Liverpool team ratings:

Jose Reina - 8
Put in a poor performance in the first half, and was partly or totally to blame for all of West Ham's goals. He redeemed himself with the fine double save from Harewood and Benayoun however, and the fantastic save from Nigel Reo-Coker. Did the "Dudek" in the penalty shootout to win the Cup for Liverpool.

Steve Finnan - 7
An average performance from Steve Finnan. Once again, quiet down the right flank, he did his job relatively well.

John Arne Riise - 6
Was poor in defence as West Ham exposed his lack of pace at the back. Riise seems to run much faster when he is attacking rather than defending.

Jamie Carragher - 6
His mistake put West Ham in front, and looked unsettled in defence until much later. Was not a solid as he should have been.

Sami Hyypia - 7
The composed Finnish defender put in a credible performance. Was too slow to prevent Etherington's shot for the second goal though. Produced a wonderful turn, which beat two West Ham defenders, and shot at the other end at a point in the match.

Steven Gerrard - 10
Captain Fantastic pulled the Reds from the brink in this match with two beautiful goals and one assist. A brilliant performance from the man-of-the-match.

Harry Kewell - 6
Was largely anonymous in attack in the first half and had an injury in the second that saw him taken off after just 48 minutes of the game.

Xabi Alonso - 6
Never looked fully fit in the game. Struggled to keep up with West Ham's midfield. His mistake with the square ball gifted West Ham the first goal.

Mohamed Sissoko - 9
Was a powerful runner in midfield as he chased and harried all of West Ham's midfielders. He was the fittest player on the pitch as he lasted the whole match without giving up.

Djibril Cisse - 9
The fastest man on the field, he was always a threat to West Ham's goal with his long shots and great crosses. Produced a wonderful volley to pull a goal back for Liverpool at 2-0 down. Cisse looked every inch the player we bought from Auxerre in this game.

Peter Crouch - 8
Produced a wonderful knockdown for Gerrard's first wonder goal. Peter Crouch was largely quiet though, although he had a goal wrongly ruled offside.

Substitutes:

Fernando Morientes - 7
Came on and changed the dimension of Liverpool's attack. He had many miscued headers and shots though, and really should have threatened Shaka Hislop more.

Jan Kromkamp - 8
Came on and played on the right hand side, allowing Gerrard to play a more central role. Was a powerful runner on the right flank, and a great threat as he had bags of energy while the others were tired in extra time.

Dietmar Hamann - 9
Played in defensive midfield and gave Gerrard license to roam behind Fernando Morientes. The German ace protected his defence well and was involved in many of Liverpool's attacks. His penalty was well taken in the shootout as well.

Final Score: Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties)

Archangel's Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard

"You'll Never Walk Alone"

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