[Liverweb] FA Cup Final Match Report

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What a weekend - won the FA Cup and then there was a homecoming
yesterday. Pictures from the two days will go on the site in time -
the homecoming ones will be sooner as they were on a digital camera.
The downside of the homecoming was just how miserable all the
players looked. None of them seemed bothered about doing the tour
which was a shame after so many people had turned out for them.

Liverweb FA Cup Final Match Report 2005-06

Liverpool 3 West Ham United 3

Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard (C),
Alosno, Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse, Morientes

Subs Used : Morientes for Kewell (47), Kromkamp for Alonso (67),
Hamann for Crouch (71)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Traore

Att : 71,140

Ref : Alan Wiley

Goals : Liverpool - Cisse (32), Gerrard (58), (90) - West Ham :
Carragher OG (21), Ashton (28), Konchesky (68)

Liverpool Penalty West Ham United
Hamann (Scored) 1 Zamora (Saved)
Hyypia (Saved) 2 Sheringham (Scored)
Gerrard (Scored) 3 Konchesky (Saved)
Riise (Scored) 4 Ferdinand (Scored)

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We've won the Cup, We've won the cup ee-ay-addio we've won the cup!
This can only be described as one of the great cup finals of all
time. The never say die commitment from the players and fans won
this cup and of course the outstanding performance from Steven
Gerrard. This whole day was just superb although that's because we
won the cup of course. Huge massive credit must go to West Ham as
well here because they played a huge part in this and were unlucky
not to win the cup in the end.

The trip itself started with a coach journey down to Cardiff,
starting at Anfield at 7.30 in the morning. The coach arrived down
at Cardiff at lunchtime without too much problems and it was off to
the West Gate pub as usual for me. The streets were already packed
by this point so it seemed an age to get to the pub, picking up the
massively over priced programme en route - £8.50 is scandalous but
they know people will buy it anyway. On to the pub and a few pints
and meeting up with the usual suspects before heading up to the
ground about 2ish.

Getting in to the ground was no problem and took up the seats in
line with the corner flag looking up the pitch from the Liverpool
end. The players arrived shortly afterwards for their warm up. The
usual FA cup hymns followed and then just before the game was ready
to start I looked round to the boxes behind to see Rio Ferdinand had
come outside to sit on the back row of the Liverpool fans. Did he
really expect a peaceful time? Well he certainly didn't get it
that's for sure.

On to the game and West Ham got the game started attacking the
Liverpool end. Djibril Cisse started the game with odd boots on -
one red and one silver which was certainly noticeable if not stupid.
The Reds started reasonably well and were showing decent shape on
the pitch. Gerrard and Cisse both put early crosses in but neither
caused too much of a problem. On the other side West Ham put a lot
of the ball through Benayoun who seemed to revel in the big match
atmosphere and played superbly all game.

West Ham settled more quickly after the initial period and were
putting the crisper passes together. A fair few Reds seemed to be
struggling to stand on the pitch. The pitch wasn't in great
condition and both sides struggled at times to get the weight of
their passes right. It was West Ham though who mastered it quicker
and it was converted in to pressure and goals. On just eighteen
minutes West Ham pounced on a weak Alonso ball in midfield and broke
at speed. Ashton pushed the ball through the inside right channel
and Scaloni raced passed everyone to put a cross in. Carragher was
racing back to block the ball but only managed to send it in to the
bottom corner. West Ham were ahead and their fans went wild.

Just five minutes later it got even worse for the Reds as they went
two down. Etherington skipped passed Hyypia before shooting on goal.
It seemed bread and butter for Reina but he fumbled it and Ashton
toe poked it past him before he could recover and the ball trickled
over the line. Things just weren't happening on the day but we've
been here before haven't we. Just a year earlier it was the same
feeling in Istanbul that it just wasn't happening on the pitch for
us. We just had to get behind the players even more.

The Reds did react to the second goal and it only took nine minutes
to get back in to it. They actually had the ball in the net just
before the goal actually when Peter Crouch latched on to a free kick
to volley home but the lino had his flag raised before the shot was
taken. It gave us hope though and on thirty two minutes Steven
Gerrard lofted a ball over the West ham defence and Cisse fired
home. It got the Reds right back in it and there was loads of time
to get this won.

As the half progressed it continued to be very open. West Ham were
looking to use the full width of the pitch against the Reds through
Benayoun and Etherington. On the opposite side the Reds were playing
very narrowly after Kewell and Gerrard had tucked inside. Cisse had
moved out left a little but Finnan's side was very exposed. Dean
Ashton fired a shot across Reina and just wide of the goal on thirty
eight minutes as the Irons threatened to regain control of the game.
The Reds though were having none of it and Cisse forced Hislop in to
a save as well.

Half time came and it gave you time to see the goals again on the
big screen and weigh up the pro's and cons of how we could win the
game. The Reds came back out unchanged and got the game started
again. It didn't take long to realise Kewell was injured though and
the subs warmed up straight away. He was clearly injured but it's
strange how the switch seemed to take an absolute age to happen
still. It probably didn't of course. West Ham had a glorious chance
to extend the lead just a minute in to the half as first Ashton and
then Harewood were denied a goal by Reina.

Morientes came on to replace the injured Kewell who limped straight
down the tunnel. It pushed Cisse out to the left side of the pitch
as Nando slotted in with Crouch. On fifty four minutes it was a case
of step up Steven Gerrard. Crouch and Morientes both went for the
same header in the box but at least managed to knock it down. It
went just behind Hyypia who was up for Reds but as he initially went
to get it he saw Gerrard steaming in and stayed out of the way.
Gerrard thumped the ball past Hislop who had no chance and the Reds
were level. Part of it reminded me of the Owen equaliser in 2001.
Now you had belief that we could win in normal time.

West Ham certainly didn't read the script though and were back in
front just ten minutes later. Paul Konchesky broke down their left
and looked to cross to either Harewood or Ashton who had both taken
up good positions in the box. His cross though was off target and
suddenly Reina seemed to start scrambling backwards only to see the
ball drop over him and in to the back of the net. The Hammers were
ahead again and that felt gutting at that point. It really was
stirring stuff.

The Reds sent on Kromkamp for Alonso who asked to come off with an
injury. The move saw the right side tighten up a bit as Kromkamp
holds better width tot he midfield. Steven Gerrard moved inside and
the Reds tried to get back in to the game again. Cisse, by now in
bright yellow boots started crippling when things didn't go his way.
On sixty five minutes the Reds changed tack again and this switch
for me won us the cup in a sense. Hamann came on for Crouch and put
his shield up in front of the defence. Sissoko and Gerrard just
marched on from there to dominate the rest of the game.

As the clock ticked on though the Reds just weren't creating clear
chances. Cisse crossed on eighty one minutes only for Morientes to
head over the bar. Was it going to happen then or not as the clock
just kept on ticking. Surely there was one last effort there and the
crowd tried their best. Then right on time up stepped Gerrard. The
fourth official had just shown his board for injury time and the
stadium announcer was in the middle of communicating this as the
ball hit the back of the net. Steven Gerrard, suffering from cramp
hadn't moved after taking a free kick. West Ham half cleared it but
from thirty five yards Gerrard just hit one of his specials that
Hislop just had no chance with. This was just unbelievable stuff and
extra time was on the cards.

West Ham did have a chance at the end of the game but Konchesky saw
his free kick well held by Reina and extra time it was. So many of
the players looked out of it with cramp and were holding one another
up. West ham looked the fresher of the two sides if anything. The
Reds got extra time started. Their best chance of the first half
fell to Riise who bent a shot just over the cross bar as the Reds
looked to win it. At the end of the half Hyypia went close as well
after he turned away from two men before shooting goal. His shot
though just bent away from the goal and that was the end of the half.

The second half of extra time saw more and more players dropping
like flies. I think there was probably only Hyypia, Hamann,
Morientes and Reina at the end of it who hadn't looked out of it.
Fewer and fewer chances were created and the Reds looked like they
were happy to wait for penalties. With our shoot out record it's
little wonder as well! Right at the end of the match there was one
moment it nearly fell away from us though. Reina just tipped a shot
on to his post and Hyypia tried to scoop away. It fell invitingly
for Harewood but he could only just manage to hit it wide as he
struggled to even move. Harewood was only really on the pitch making
the numbers up having virtually been ruled out of the game. All I
can say is thank god it fell to him in that state.

Penalties it was and they were taken at the far end of the ground
where the West Ham fans were. The Reds took the first one and Hamann
stepped up and after his usual shimmy placed it high past Hislop for
a goal. Bobby Zamora was up next and he shot left only to Reina make
a huge save at his far post. Advantage Reds and up stepped Hyypia.
His penalty though was poor and Hislop saved with ease having gone
the right way. Teddy Sheringham was up next and he slotted home
superbly well. Now for the captain Steven Gerrard who scored with
ease. Konchesky came next for the Hammers but Reina somehow flung a
leg at his spot kick to save it and the Reds were back in control.
Riise slammed his penalty straight down the middle to bring the cup
within reach. Anton Ferdinand stepped forward and shot left. Reina
went the right way and saved the spot kick before racing off to
celebrate. The Reds had won the 2006 FA Cup and the scenes were
superb.

As the podiums were set up the fans and players all danced around
celebrating. That cramp seemed so far away now. West Ham got their
medals first and they walked up to a full ground applauding them.
They had given everything in this and were unlucky. It's always
easier to look at it when you've won but West Ham did themselves
proud. Then came the moment for the Reds to collect the cup from
Prince William. Steven Gerrard picked up the official man of the
match award and then got the trophy held way above his head.

The lap of honour saw the Reds go to the away end first before
coming around our own fans. It was great celebrations and Kelly
Dalglish had managed to get herself down as a pitch side reporter.
She grabbed Gerrard for an interview at one point and Reina and
Cisse both grabbed huge cut outs of their heads to go round with.
Getting out the ground was slow but noisy and happy. The trip home
was certainly a lot better than after the last cup final anyway -
League cup final last season. The trip back was so good in fact
coming up the back roads that I made it home for Match of the Day
and the chance to see it all over again.

MotM : Steven Gerrard - there was only one man who could change run
this game as he did and even the two West Ham fans sat next to me
agreed that he was head and shoulders above everyone else. Gerrard
lead from the front to the back and his goals were truly special. A
huge pat on the back as well must go to Sissoko who was immense as
well in the midfield.

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Match Stats
Liverpool West Ham
63% Possession 37%
4 Shots On Target 8
14 Shots Off Target 5
3 Blocked Shots 2
5 Corners 4
13 Fouls 25
3 Offsides 2
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0

The route to the final

R3 Luton Town Away W 5-3
R4 Portsmouth Away W 2-1
R5 Manchester United Home W 1-0
QF Birmingham City Away W 7-0
SF Chelsea Old Trafford W 2-1

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