27.02.2005 - Liverpool lose extra time thriller
An extra time double strike by Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman was enough to ensure that Rafa Benitez will have to wait a while longer for his first Liverpool trophy, after a thrilling cup final in Cardiff.
The Reds went ahead in spectacular fashion, when John Arne Riise smashed in a ferocious volley after only 43 seconds of the first major domestic final of the season.
And after suffering defeats in the FA Cup and the Champions League during the previous week, it looked to be another blow to Chelsea's chances of winning a cup competition this season.
But after enjoying the better of the opening quarter of an hour of the game, Liverpool were on the back foot for much of the remainder of the match as Jose Mourinho's expensively assembled side piled on the pressure.
Jerzy Dudek was forced into vital saves in each half, but a fantastic defensive performance prevented Chelsea from getting close to goal too often.
But despite having to endure so much pressure, the game was almost put beyond doubt when Steve Gerrard got on the end of a well delivered cross from the right by Nunez, only to put his shot inches wide, put off slighly by a desperate challenge from Ferreira.
Gerrard did get on the scoresheet soon after though, when an attempted headed clearance from a Chelsea kick looped behind him. Dudek was helpless as he saw the ball clip the inside of the post and give Chelsea a massive lift.
Milan Baros wasted a chance in the closing stages to win it for Liverpool, but extra time was eventually required to separate the sides.
A nervous opening period of extra time almost saw Chelsea take the lead when a Drogba header struck the post early on, and Igor Biscan had a chance at the other end ut headed over.
It took only a few minutes of the second period for the game to swing in Chelsea's favour though, when Drogba scrambled the ball over the line in front of the Chelsea fans, and another scrappy close range finish by Kezman minutes later appeared to have settled the match.
Antonio Nunez grabbed a goal back to give Liverpool hope with four minutes remaining, but Chelsea held on to claim their first piece of silverware since the arrival of Roman Abramovich.
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