Final Piala Carling 2012 : Liverpool vs Cardiff
Layan final. Berdebar jantung aku bila Cardiff
dapat samakan kedudukan. Lagi 3 minit sebelum tamat Extra-Time. Sepakan penalti
pertama dimulakan oleh Stevie G, tak masuk! Charlie Adam pun tak masuk!
Akhirnya sepakan penalti yang terakhir Cardiff
diambil oleh sepupu Gerrard. Tak masuk! Lega rasanya. Piala Liga ke-8 buat
Liverpool. Sekali lagi menjadi pasukan yang paling banyak menang Piala Liga.
YNWA!
CARLING CUP GLORY FOR REDS
James Carroll at Wembley
Liverpool ended their six-year wait for silverware
with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup
final at Wembley.
After the game had finished 2-2 following
extra-time, the Reds prevailed 3-2 on penalties with Anthony Gerrard missing
the decisive kick for the Welsh side. It meant Kenny Dalglish has led Liverpool to a
trophy in his first full season back at the helm, and he'll be hoping it proves
the catalyst for further success in the remainder of 2011-12.
Joe Mason had given the Bluebirds a 19th minute
lead against the run of play when he crept into space inside the box and struck
through the legs of Pepe Reina. Liverpool controlled the contest, but had to wait
until the hour mark to equalise when Martin Skrtel pounced on a loose ball in
the box to fire home after Luis Suarez's header had hit the post.
With no further goals in the 90 minutes, the teams
contested half an hour of extra-time - and Dirk Kuyt fired the Reds into the
lead when he found the net at the second attempt from the edge of the box on
108 minutes. However, Ben Turner netted from a goal-mouth
scramble following a Cardiff corner at the death to force penalties. But it was to be Dalglish and co celebrating at the
national stadium as his team lifted their first trophy since 2006.
Liverpool embarked on their journey to the cup
final way back in August against Exeter City. Dalglish opted to name a strong
starting XI that evening and it was a policy he kept faith with throughout the
tournament as his side also overcame Brighton, Stoke, Chelsea and Manchester
City en-route to a first ever visit to the new Wembley. The final naturally proved no exception with the
boss making just one change to the side that had prevailed 6-1 against Brighton
in the FA Cup fifth round last weekend. The fit-again Daniel Agger returned to the line-up
to replace Jamie Carragher after overcoming a knock, while Craig Bellamy was
named on the bench against his hometown club having returned to fitness. That meant the attacking triumvirate of Steven
Gerrard, Andy Carroll and Suarez spearheaded the Reds' attack in the capital in
only their second start as a trio.
Liverpool went into their first domestic final
since 2006 as heavy favourites against Championship side Cardiff as Dalglish
led the team out in a major cup showpiece for the fourth time. His players almost made a dream start to the
afternoon inside two minutes when Glen Johnson saw an effort cannon off the
underside of the crossbar following a speedy counter-attack. Gerrard could only
whack the rebound over under pressure after being set up by Suarez. The move was in keeping with a positive start from
the Reds - but Cardiff threatened on 11 minutes when a well-worked passage of
play carved open a shooting chance for Kenny Miller, but he fired high over the
bar. Back came Liverpool and Carroll's downward header
from a Suarez centre had Tom Heaton scrambling across his goal-line to keep it
out. But on 19 minutes, Cardiff left the travelling Kop
stunned by taking the lead. Mason drifted into space behind Jose Enrique and
found the back of the net with a low finish through the legs of Reina from
Miller's pass.
The Reds were shaken but they set about looking to
restore instant parity, and after Enrique had clipped a right-foot strike over
from the edge of the box, Charlie Adam's low volley flew centimetres the wrong
side of the upright. Next, an intricate one-two between Suarez and Carroll
inside the box almost presented the latter with a clear shooting opportunity,
but Mark Hudson was able to produce a saving challenge for Cardiff. Then, brilliant wing play from Stewart Downing
allowed the winger to send in a dangerous centre which was completely missed by
Jordan Henderson, before bouncing for Gerrard who struck off target.
With half-time approaching, Suarez worked space for
a shot on the edge of the box, though his prod was claimed by Heaton, before
the 'keeper thwarted an Agger header from a free-kick, but a flag was raised
for offside. Liverpool threatened again when Andrew Taylor flung
his body in the way of a seemingly goal-bound Gerrard shot from just inside the
area to ensure the Championship team went into the break holding their lead. The Reds produced a commanding start to the second
period, and only a fingertip save from Heaton prevented Suarez from levelling
when the No.7 struck from a tight angle. Then the Uruguay striker was denied a shot on goal
by a fine challenge from Kevin McNaughton before Agger glanced a header wide
from a corner.
With just over half an hour left on the clock,
Dalglish decided to introduce Bellamy into the action to take the place of
Henderson - and the Reds were level within a minute. Carroll's header from Downing's corner was nodded
on by Suarez. The ball struck the post, but broke for Skrtel who slipped home
from six yards to make it 1-1. In doing so, the Slovakian became the first
Liverpool player to score at Wembley since Steve McManaman in 1995.
The Reds were now firmly in the ascendancy and
forced a succession of corners to hem their opponents back - and Skrtel went
close with a volley which Heaton did well to collect at his near post on 74
minutes. The Cardiff stopper then had his palms stung by
Downing's drill from distance, while Ben Turner headed wide at the other end
when well placed. With two minutes of normal time remaining,
Liverpool were afforded a real let off when a clever free-kick played Miller in
behind the wall, but he could only strike his attempt well over to mean
extra-time was required to try and separate the teams. Suarez twice went close in the opening stages of
extra-time, first having a long-range drive turned around the base of the post
by Heaton before watching his header cleared off the line by Taylor from the
resulting corner.
It was another corner that fashioned the Reds' next
chance, with Carroll nodding Downing's delivery just wide. It was the striker's
last contribution as he was replaced by Kuyt immediately afterwards. The chances continued to come for Dalglish's men as
Bellamy curled over before Johnson arrowed one off target. However, just three minutes into the second period
of extra-time, Liverpool finally made their dominance pay. Kuyt strode forward and dragged a shot across goal.
The ball was cleared by Hudson, but only as far as the Dutchman who found the
bottom corner with an instant strike. But with just moments left on the clock, Turner
squeezed the ball home following a goal-mouth scramble at a Cardiff to mean the
final would be decided by penalty kicks.
Gerrard, Miller and Adam all missed the first three
kicks before Don Cowie scored for Cardiff. Kuyt then netted for Liverpool and Rudy Gestede
struck the woodwork to leave the teams level after three attempts each. Downing and Peter Whittingham both scored the
fourth penalties before Johnson fired home leaving Anthony Gerrard needing to
score for Cardiff. The Bluebirds substitute dragged wide, however, to
send the travelling Kop into bedlam and ensure Liverpool's long wait for
silverware was finally over.
- source from www.liverpoolfc.com