By J Wade
March 1 2005

Extra time goals from Chelsea's Dider Drogba and Mateja Kezman have condemned Liverpool to a 3-2 defeat in today's League Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Both goals came in the second period of extra time after Steven Gerrard had headed into his own net on 79 minutes and it was tough luck on Liverpool after they put everything to try and win a record 8th League Cup. 
 
Antonio Nunez hit back on 113 minutes to give the Reds a lifeline, but they couldnt recover and are now left to reflect on a game that had everything.
 
It took the Reds just 45 seconds of the match to take the lead and what a goal it was. Fernando Morientes was the creator when he got clear on the right and his cross found Riise at the far post to volley left footed beyond the static Cech.
 
Riise's early goal made a cagey first half inevitable and we'd played almost 30 minutes before Chelsea threatened Jerzy Dudek's goal. Having said that, Chelsea did come into the game a lot more before the interval and Drogba came close before Garcia was forced to clear off the goal line with Dudek beaten.
 
Chelsea came out fighting in the second half and there were nervous moments when referee Steve Bennett appeared to reach for a card for already booked Djimi Traore, but we were relieved when a free kick was the only punishment.
 
You can imagine Jose Mourinho had some strong words with his players at half time because they certainly came out a different side and Liverpool had to hold on as they swept forward in waves of attacks.
 
It was one such attack, on 55 minutes, that came closest to seeing Chelsea draw level. And it was Jerzy Dudek, much maligned for his part in Bayer Leverkusen's away goal on Tuesday, who was the hero.
 
The Polish stopper has taken his fair share of criticism in the last few days, but he was at his brilliant best to first deny Gudjohnsen and then foilGallas when an equaliser looked certain.
 
It was obvious from benitez's nervous pacing of the touchline that he wasn't happy with the way his side were being pegged in their own half, but they almost had some breathing space when Garcia and Hamann showed how to counter attack. Only a great save from cech prevented Hamann from doubling the advantage after Garcia had played him in.
 
The Reds were defending again soon after and this time it was Riise who had to clear off his own goal line. And Liverpool nerves were increased when Steven Gerrard missed a guilt edged chance to extend the lead.
 
For all the Chelsea pressure, it didn't look like Liverpool were in any great danger, but all that changed on 79 minutes when Steven Gerrard scored an own goal when trying to clear.
 
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was sent from the bench shortly before the end of the game for continually berating referee Steve Bennett and he was forced to watch the remainder of the game from the stands.
 
Liverpool now had to pick themselves up again for extra time. But pick themselves up they did and they more than matched Chelsea in the additional 30 minutes and Biscan missed a great chance to save the need for penalties.
 
That miss was to prove costly soon after when first Drogba and then Kezman struck to earn Jose Mourinho his first silverware as Chelsea boss.
 
Liverpool will take plenty of credit from this game, but the travelling red army will not be taking the cup back to Liverpool with them.

Liverpool: Dudek, Traore, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Riise, Gerrard, Hamann, Garcia, Kewell, Morientes.

Subs: Carson, Pellegrino, Baros, Nunez, Biscan
 
Chelsea: Cech, Gallas, Carvalho, Terry, Ferreira, Jarosik, Lampard, Makelele, Cole, Duff, Drogba.

Subs: Johnson, Kezman, Gudjohnsen, Mendes, Pidgeley
 
Referee: Steve Bennett
 
Conditions: Dry & Cold
 
Attendance: 71,622