[lfc-news] Super Cup report - PA

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PA Sport, 26 Aug 2005
Liverpool 3 CSKA Moscow 1 (AET)

Djibril Cisse provided a telling response to suggestions his place
should be usurped by Michael Owen with a match-winning contribution to
secure the European Super Cup for Liverpool.

The 24-year-old French striker came off the bench to score two goals and
make the third for Luis Garcia just when it looked as though the match
was heading UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow's way through Daniel Carvalho's
first-half strike.

Rafael Benitez had elected to keep Cisse on the bench until the last 15
minutes of normal time - but his introduction proved decisive with his
pace and power providing a compelling argument that Liverpool may not be
better off with Owen instead of him as their first-choice forward.

Super Cups are often muted affairs and this was no exception, especially
with Liverpool being limited to 2,000 tickets while CSKA Moscow were
given 6,000 - no doubt to attract cash-rich Russians to the
millionaires' playground of Monte Carlo.

CSKA's gameplan was to try to contain Liverpool and strike on the break
through the impressive Carvalho and his fellow Brazilian Vagner Love,
and for most of the match it worked - thanks also to Luis Garcia wasting
four or five decent chances due to poor finishing.

Liverpool were without skipper Steven Gerrard, who was not risking a
calf injury, and his replacement Dietmar Hamann contributed to a brisk
opening period with a low sidefooted shot from the edge of the box which
was well saved by Igor Akinfeev.

Luis Garcia should have done better when set free by Hamann's lofted
ball over the top but his first touch was poor, and then the Spaniard
fired over from 18 yards after being picked out by a glorious pass from
Bolo Zenden.

Liverpool continued to carve out chances with Fernando Morientes
clipping a curling effort a couple of yards wide, then his backheel set
up Luis Garcia only for him to drag his shot past the post.

Morientes brought another save out of Akinfeev from 20 yards before CSKA
first showed the quality which brought them their first European trophy
in May.

Milos Krasic's trickery earned him space to fire just wide before CSKA
took a 28th-minute lead in their next attack thanks to their Brazilian
strike duo.

Vagner Love sent Carvalho through with John Arne Riise playing him
onside and the 22-year-old skipped past Jose Manuel Reina before rolling
the ball into the empty net.

Luis Garcia was once more wantonly wasteful with an off-target finish
after being put clear by Hamann, and the German midfielder himself then
fired well over from 25 yards.

The stadium DJ tried to raise Liverpool spirits by playing Love Me Do by
The Beatles during the break but the Reds continued to struggle with
their finishing in the second half.

Josemi was the culprit this time after a surging run but his powerful
drive cleared the crossbar.

At the other end Reina was almost embarrassed by a dipping free-kick
from Yuri Zhirkov, and Liverpool struggled to break down a packed CSKA
defence and midfield.

Finally, Benitez relented and sent on Cisse with 15 minutes of normal
time remaining - and 120 seconds later he equalised.

There was more than an element of luck to the goal - and a strong
element of handball - after Luis Garcia's flick-on of Reina's long kick
created uncertainty in the CSKA defence.

An attempted clearance struck the French striker's hand and looped over
goalkeeper Akinfeev, allowing Cisse to follow up and wallop the ball
gleefully into the net.

Cisse had a chance to clinch it in normal time but could not find the
power to beat Akinfeev.

In the 12th minute of extra-time Cisse seized on a defensive error to
put Liverpool ahead with a long ball from Hamann causing problems.

Sergey Ignashevich made a hash with a clearing header and Cisse crashed
a shot straight at Akinfeev, but slipped home the rebound when it fell
fortuitously at his feet.

Vagner Love could have sent the game to penalties after being set up by
Carvalho but Reina did enough to keep him out.

Then Cisse ensured the trophy was Liverpool's with a curling cross which
landed the ball on Luis Garcia's head - and even he could not miss from
close range.

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan (Sinama Pongolle 55), Hyypia, Riise (Cisse 79),
Luis Garcia, Alonso (Sissoko 71), Hamann, Josemi, Morientes, Carragher,
Zenden.
Subs Not Used: Carson, Warnock.
Booked: Zenden, Luis Garcia, Hyypia, Sinama Pongolle.
Goals: Cisse 82, 102, Luis Garcia 109.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili
Berezutsky, Ordia (Gusev 90), Daniel Carvalho, Vagner Love, Krasic (Dudu
85), Zhirkov (Semberas 66), Aldonin, Rahimic.
Subs Not Used: Mandrykin, Samodin.
Booked: Rahimic.
Goals: Daniel Carvalho 28.

Att: 18,000
Ref: Rene Temmink (Holland).

BENITEZ TIGHT-LIPPED ON CISSE FUTURE

Rafael Benitez declined to answer questions on Djibril Cisse's long-term
future at Liverpool after the France striker had won the European Super
Cup for the Merseysiders.

Cisse came on as a second-half substitute, scoring twice and making a
third goal for Luis Garcia as Liverpool fought back from 1-0 down to
beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 in Monaco.

However, with Michael Owen strongly linked with a return to Anfield,
Benitez would only say: "We want trophies and we want good players."

Liverpool fell behind to a Daniel Carvalho goal in the first half but
Cisse's first strike took the game into extra-time.

"I think it was a difficult game," he told ITV1. "We did one mistake and
we're losing."

Cisse wants to stay with Liverpool but admitted he has been under
pressure recently.

"I've had a lot of speculation about me the last few weeks but now I'm
very happy for me and my wife and the team," he told ITV1.

"My future is at Liverpool for the moment. I feel good here so I don't
know why I have to move.

"It's difficult but I have to be strong."

Jamie Carragher, Liverpool captain in Steven Gerrard's absence, praised
Cisse's attitude.

He said: "He wanted to prove a point but he's reacted in the right way
by winning us the cup so all credit to him."

Carragher added: "It's only one game but the whole of Europe is watching
and it's always nice to win a trophy.

"We're involved in six this year and this is the first."

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