Liverpool win Carling Cup 2012 and Reds Fans Hope this will be the First of Many

lfcfootball.com

Liverpool fans, players and especially coach Kenny Dalglish are surely relieved and excited over Liverpool's dramatic Carling Cup victory today at Wembley against a strong Cardiff City side.

The Reds were surely favorites to win, as the Welsh side Cardiff sits in sixth place in the npower Championship, but Liverpool struggled to live up to that expectation in the first half as they fell behind one goal to nil after a smart finish from Mason through the legs of Pepe Reina in the 19th minute. It would be none other than the center back Martin Skrtel who would put his side back in the game in the 57th minute after a loose corner kick found Luis Suarez and the troubled striker headed it right off of the post. Liverpool were back in the match, the scoreline 1-1 and the two teams were in for a dramatic finish. Dirk Kuyt surely thought he had done it when he scored for Liverpool in the 108th minute, coming on as a sub after the regulation 90 minutes came to a close at 1-1. The second half of added time resumed, but Cardiff City showed they had the hearts of lions as they came out fighting and equalized in the 118th minute.
It was then down to a dramatic penalty shootout. Captain Steven Gerrard was the first to step up for Liverpool, but it wouldn't be his day and Liverpool would begin at a disadvantage. Luckily for the Reds, Kenny Miller hit the post, and it wouldn't be the first time for Cardiff, either. Liverpool's next penalty was sent high over the crossbar by Charlie Adam and Cardiff were able to capitalize. Kuyt and Downing were able to hit the mark for the Premier League side while Cardiff's next penalty hit the post. Glenn Johnson's kick past Heaton meant that if Cardiff missed, the Reds would lift the trophy. No pressure. Unfortunately for the Welsh side, Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of the Liverpool captain, would send his penalty kick wide of the goal and Liverpool were the champions.
The Reds are still in the running for the FA Cup and with their current spot in 7th place meaning they will miss out on European competition next year, they will surely want to add the trophy to their trophy cabinets before setting their sights on better league placement in the 2012/2013 campaign.