The Reds made it to Wembley after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Man City. On one of the typically great semi final nights at Anfield we twice went behind to City and twice fought back and thanks to the first leg lead it was the Reds who march on down to Wembley.
Much has been made about how this is the Reds' first trip in sixteen years to Wembley but that is a slight disservice to us in my mind after all the finals in Cardiff due to re-building. That said I don't care because we're going and let's hope we can beat Cardiff to lift the famous three armed trophy yet again. We've only done it seven times before!
The crowd from both ends of the ground was noisy and well up for the match and City started the game kicking to the Kop in the first half. They tried to get in to a passing rhythm from the off but the Reds were hassling them at every angle they could and not letting them settle.
After just four minutes of the match the Reds had a chance to score when Jose Enrique had the ball land at his feet after a Downing cross was half cleared to the Spaniard but with only Hart to beat he poked it goalwards only to see the keeper poke the ball out with his feet.
Before that goal kick was then taken Steven Gerrard received a yellow card - from a second minute tackle on Gareth Barry from which play had gone on.
The Reds were on the front foot and Savic was looking very dodgy at the back for them and Craig Bellamy certainly spotted that.
Charlie Adam forced Hart in to another save on ten minutes when he shot from twenty five yards. City always looked dangerous despite our early pressure and they have some great speed about them.
On fifteen minutes apparently they had a penalty shout but it passed me by - it's only afterwards when I heard about it so that for me says it wasn't a clear cut pen and I'll stick to that one.
On nineteen minutes Bellamy got away from the dithering Savic but his shot was too close and easy for Hart to save and the chance went begging. If only he'd drilled it low then I think he would have had a great chance to score.
Bellamy did have the ball in the net five minutes later but the lino had his flag up well in advance and I think it was right although a huge amount of the crowd hadn't seen the flag and had started to celebrate.
Despite all the pressure from the Reds it was City who took the lead and it was a great effort as well from de Jong who got his shot away as he was falling and evading the slide from Gerrard. It flew in to the top corner and left Reina with no chance. It was certainly game on now as that was the away goal cancelled out.
The Reds were stung straight in to the action and were piling more pressure on City and it finally told when they were given a penalty for hand ball. The ref was very clear in his judgement that someone had stopped it with his hands. It was at the far end for me so I couldn't tell who but I was made up and wondering where the card was. Phil Dowd clearly showed everyone that it was a flinging hands in the air.
Steven Gerrard spotted the ball up and after having some kidology with Joe Hart he sent the ball in to the same bottom corner as the first leg with Hart expecting it down the middle. The Reds were back in control of the tie again and now it was starting to liven up.
The Reds continued to be the better side until half time and now it was just forty five minutes to Wembley.
City made a switch at half time - sadly Savic went off for them and Aguero came on which made them more positive in shape but the Argentine didn't have a great impact with Agger beating him to many of the balls intended for him.
The Reds started the second half really well again and were pushing City back but half a mind was always on not over committing and getting caught on the counter by City.
Six minutes in to the half and we were so close to taking the lead but yet again Hart was there to tip a Skrtel shot, destined for the top corner away for a corner kick. Hart was really the reason City were still in the game - well the tie really after a number of saves in the first leg.
After City had started to get a little more possession they finally took the lead once again. Kolarov beat Gerrard down the wing and crossed it in and Dzeko escaped Agger at the back post to tuck the ball home. Now it was nerves time for a bit as we were behind on away goals although level on aggregate.
Those nerves were extinguished on seventy two minutes when Bellamy struck home the equaliser and the ultimate winner in the tie. Kuyt played a ball in to Bellamy and after a one two Bellamy stroked the ball past Hart to send the ground mad with delight.
Once the equaliser went in I really felt like it was a game over from our point of view and we got through so much work to protect ourselves from front to back. All that work meant that there were very few heart in the mouth scenario's for me. Pepe Reina had very little of the action to carry out and you could start planning the Wembley trip in your head.
Once the time was played out - and the Reds had made two switches Martin Kelly coming on for Craig Bellamy and Carroll for Kuyt there were four added minutes. That came and went before Phil Dowd blew for time and we were through to the final and the celebrations were great - seeing the players so made up to get to the final and they wee with us to celebrate. Roll on Cardiff at Wembley
MotM : Craig Bellamy - the fella worked so incredibly hard and he was the difference between us making Wembley or not.
