Liverpool beat Cardiff 3-2 on penalty kicks in League Cup final
Liverpool's six-year trophy drought ended Sunday after beating Cardiff 3-2 in a penalty shootout when Reds captain Steven Gerrard's cousin, Anthony Gerrard, missed the final spot kick.
- Associated Press
- Updated: February 27, 2012 12:52 AM IST
Liverpool's six-year trophy drought ended Sunday by winning the League Cup final after beating Cardiff 3-2 in a penalty shootout when captain Steven Gerrard's cousin, Anthony Gerrard, missed the final spot kick.
Liverpool's record eighth League Cup is Kenny Dalglish's first trophy since returning to Liverpool 13 months ago after a 20-year absence and completes his collection of domestic honors as a manager.
The match at Wembley Stadium finished at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time, with Cardiff defender Ben Turner scrambling the ball over the line in the 118th minute from a corner to ensure the match would be settled with spot kicks.
Liverpool had to fight back after Joe Mason gave second-tier club Cardiff a shock lead in the 19th minute, with Martin Skrtel making it 1-1 on the hour and forcing the game into extra time.
Liverpool took until the 108th minute to hit the front, with Dirk Kuyt smashing in the rebound after his initial effort was blocked by Anthony Gerrard.
Despite Kuyt making an initial goal-line clearance from Filip Kiss, the Netherlands international couldn't prevent Turner from leveling.
"This is what I came to Liverpool for, and to win a first trophy is excellent. Hopefully we can add another later in the season," Kuyt said, referring to the FA Cup.
While Dalglish won the competition four times as a player, this was his first triumph as manager, joining Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho as the only winners of English football's three domestic prizes.
Cardiff has visited Wembley four times in the past five seasons, but the venue has been demolished and rebuilt in the 16 years it has taken for Liverpool to return to England's national stadium, an eternity for a club that dominated English football throughout the 1980s.