Cup Joy For Reds

Liverpool have won the FA Cup for a 7th time after Pepe Reina saved three of West Ham's penalties after a stoppage time goal from Steven Gerrard had made it 3-3 and taken the game into extra time and then penalties.
Reina was the hero as he stopped penalties from Zamora, Konchesky and Ferdinand and successful penalties for Dietmar Hamann, Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise gave the Reds the win. It had looked they would suffer cup heartache after West Ham had taken a 3-2 lead midway through the second half, but Steven Gerrard pulled them back from the brink with a superb 35 yard drive in stoppage time. There was good news for the Reds prior to kick off when Xabi Alonso was passed fit to start in this the 125th FA Cup Final. Alonso had been a doubt after picking up an injury last Sunday at Portsmouth, but his availability meant that Rafa had more options and was able to deploy Steven Gerrard on the right side of midfield. It was Liverpool who made most of the early running and we'd had only a minute when Gerrard's surging run down the right brought a rash tackle and a free kick for the Reds in a dangerous position. Nothing was to come of that, but the Reds continued to press and a cross from Gerrard just minutes later caused a moment of panic in the West Ham defence. The Hammers responded with a run and shot from Marlon Harewood, but Liverpool were quickly back on the attack and a foul on Gerrard lead to a free kick from Riise that needed a brave block from a West Ham defender. West Ham were slowly working their way into the game and they began to cause Liverpool problems. And they gave the Reds a real problem when in the 20th minute they took the lead courtesy of an own goal from Jamie Carragher. It came when Scaloni broke free on the right and in trying to clear his low cross, Carragher put through his own net. The Reds were rocked and hopes of a 7th FA Cup success seemed to be evaporating when West Ham made it 2-0 through Dean Ashton in the 28th minute. Ashton getting his chance to score from close in after Reina had only been able to parry Etherington's shot. Liverpool needed to respond and that they did when Djibril Cisse pulled a goal back in the 32nd minute. It was Cisse's 19th goal of the season and he won't have scored many better or more important than when he lashed the ball past Hislop from Gerrard's deep cross. The Reds came out for the second half with thoughts of an equalizer, but they had a superb double stop from Pepe Reina to thank for keeping them in the game in the 46th minute. It seemed inevitable Harewood would score has he shot from point blank range, but Reina saved and then got up to stop Benayoun's follow up. It proved to be a pivotal moment in the game because we then had Liverpool's best spell of the game and they got themselves level with a brilliant goal from Steven Gerrard. It came in the 54th minute after Gerrard steamed in to smash in Morientes' knock down. The Reds scented victory, but they would have their hard work was undone in the 64th minute when Paul Konchesky made it 3-2 to West Ham. It's unlikely Konchesky was intending to do anything but cross the ball, but the flight of the ball beat Reina and went in at the far post. You wondered if Liverpool could comeback again and as the clock ticked down it looked unlikely. But just when it looked like West Ham would win the cup, Steven Gerrard produced a moment of absolute magic with a 90th minute equalizer. Gerrard must have been fully 35 yards out when he smashed a half volley past Shaka Hislop. It must be one of the best goals ever seen in the FA Cup. Liverpool had a lifeline and we headed into extra time. Extra time was largely dominated by the Reds, but as hard as they tried they just couldn't avoid penalties. Riise, Hyypia, Kromkamp and Morientes all went close to winning it for the Reds in extra time, but we would have to endure dreaded penalties to find out the winner of the FA Cup. That wasn't before Liverpool suffered another scare though when Harewood headed against the crossbar. Liverpool by now are used to high pressure shoot outs, but it doesn't make them any more bearable. But Pepe Reina eased the nerves of Reds fans by saving three of West Ham's four penalties to take the cup to Anfield. What a season it's been. Liverpool can sign off knowing it's been hugely successful.