Liverpool’s last FA Cup Final was six years ago, against West Ham at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Coming a year after the Champions League Final in Istanbul, this proved to be just as dramatic and entertaining – with Rafa Benitez’s side again coming from behind to draw 3-3 and eventually win on penalties.
Of those who appeared that day, only Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard remain at the club – and all three could start against Chelsea on Saturday.
Back in 2006, it was another London side who were the Reds’ opponents and West Ham, then managed by Alan Pardew took the lead without having had a shot on goal – after Carragher scored an own goal after 21 minutes.
Dean Ashton doubled the Hammers’ lead just seven minutes later, before Djibril Cisse halved their advantage with a great finish. And ten minutes after half-time, Crouch nodded the ball down for Gerrard to power home an equaliser. That coming after Harry Kewell had done his speciality of limping out of a Cup Final!
Paul Konchesky – remember him – then made it 3-2 with a cross that Reina failed to deal with and looped into the net.
With the match into stoppage time and players suffering cramp on a hot day, Steven Gerrard came up with a stunning strike from almost 40 yards, powering a low half-volley past Shaka Hislop. It was, another, important and quite remarkable goal from the captain.
Extra time saw both sides suffering with injuries and fatigue, with the best chance falling to West Ham. Reina making up for his two errors in the earlier goals making one key save.
The Spaniard then produced the heroics in the penalty shoot-out to save three penalties, from Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand.
Liverpool’s penalties were scored by Gerrard, Hamann and Riise, with Sami Hyypia missing his.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Kromkamp 67), Sissoko, Kewell (Morientes 48), Cisse, Crouch (Hamann 71).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Traore.
Booked: Carragher, Hamann.
Goals: Cisse 32, Gerrard 54, 90.
West Ham: Hislop, Scaloni, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Fletcher (Dailly 77), Reo-Coker, Etherington (Sheringham 85), Ashton (Zamora 71), Harewood.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Collins.
Booked: Ashton.
Goals: Carragher 21 og, Ashton 28, Konchesky 64.
Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties.
Attendance: 74,000
Referee: Alan Wiley
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