25/01/2012 The League Cup Show

Last night we will -- we saw Cardiff making the final of the

Carling Cup. Tonight was all about who Cardiff will play in the final,

Liverpool or Manchester City. Liverpool had the advantage going

into the second leg at Anfield and with City deciding not to appeal

against Mario Balotelli's red card on Sunday, he became the latest

high-profile figure to miss this match. Away-goals only count after

extra time. Your commentators were this tie, but their lead his

slender, their form is patchy and in Manchester City, they face the

Premier League's most prolific goalscorers. Cardiff City at

Wembley is the prize for the winners tonight. Liverpool have

never lost a two legged tie in which they won the first game away.

This is their first home game in this season's League Cup. Stewart

Downing and Dirk Kuyt comeback, Carroll Ann Max Eaves it out.

Bellamy faces his old club. Balotelli does not feature for

Manchester City, who will not appeal his four match ban. City

played at Wembley three times in 2011. Liverpool last visited in

1996. Steven Gerrard's penalty has given Liverpool the edge in this

semi-final. Phil Dowd is the referee and it is Manchester City

attacking the Kop end of Anfield in the first 45 minutes of the second

competition in 1976 and there's Tony Book, long-standing City

Dowd has noted that but said play back on his feet because he did not

get a free-kick. Gerrard might get Downing wide. Joe Hart saves

Manchester City from falling further behind in the tie. That is

a top-class saved. Slightly fortuitous the way it breaks that

Enrique. It doesn't matter what part of the body you say that way.

-- saved it with. It is a top saved and a really important saved. Just

to confirm that Steven Gerrard has been shown a yellow card for that

Champions League, Roberto Mancini. They lost both legs of the last 16

tie against Rafael Benitez's dipping and curling. It was right

footed as well. A bit of a Charlie Adam, who was nowhere near

corner to Manchester City, their first. I'm not sure about the run

of Kolarov. I think he needs to come in on the diagonal to take

responsibility of having a shot at goal. Or even going across his

marker. Just over a quarter of an at the same time. I think Dzeko

thinks he was fouled. From the Manchester City corner... He caught

him. Charlie Adam catches his right foot and takes it away from him.

Hart again. A nice height for the keeper. A chance, without question.

No one was getting that. It was a chance that Bellamy created for

no doubt he was in an offside position. Simon Bennett with the

flag. I think he knew as well. He serve of his suspension after

Manchester City! They are level in the semi-final. Half an hour played.

0-1. 1-1 on aggregate. It is Nigel de Jong with the goal. I think that

is the first real strike on goal for Manchester City. Everything

that is good comes from Silva. He has a clear playing field in which

to hit the ball. A lovely finish. It starts out about two or three

feet wide of the goal and curls in. A bitter flight and curl -- a bit

Great effort from an impossible angle! Liverpool corner.

touch from Lescott to keep it away from Dirk Kuyt. A magnificent ball

in from Charlie Adam. Yes. Carroll of -- Kolarov was very, very lucky

because Kuyt got the wrong side of Richard's? Penalty! Handball from

Micah Richards, penalty to Liverpool. A great bit of composure

leading up to this as well. I think Micah Richards throws himself in

the way. Liverpool fans are shutting off, off, off. They have a

penalty. -- shouting. Phil Dowd making it clear that he thought

Micah Richards extended his arm to make contact. It was his left arm.

The only problem is, it came off his leg. It comes off his right leg,

which is why he thinks he is very unfortunate. So, as in the first

leg, Steven Gerrard from 12 yards front. And Steven Gerrard has both

their goals in this semi-final, to his arm, which is really

unfortunate. He can't get out of the way. I think it is totally

impossible. I think that is quite harsh. When you think back to the

Charlie Adam foul on Edin Dzeko earlier, you would say probably

more of a penalty than that one. half-time. It will do from

Liverpool's point of view. Steven Gerrard's penalty keeps them in

front in the Thai. A fascinating first half. Richard maybe unlucky

to have been adjudged to have handled the shot. Gerrard scored

after Nigel de Jong put City in front on the night. Half-time, 1-1,

on aggregate it is 2-1 Liverpool. Significant half-time substitution

from Manchester City. Sergio Aguero comes on in place of Stefan Savic.

The experiment with wing-backs is abandoned halfway through the

second leg of the semi-final. Savic Off, Aguero on. Zabaleta now is an

orthodox right-back, Kolarov and on the night, 2-1 on aggregate.

Potentially 45 minutes away from the League Cup final. Are you

surprised that Roberto Mancini has made the change? No, certainly not.

Savic was having such a bad game and had to be taken off. De Jong is

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just seemed to dip in front of the Manchester City throw. Joe Hart in

the action. Dirk Kuyt hit it as quickly as he possibly can. It

seemed to dip in front of Joe Hart. It is his fifth or sixth decent

saved. Dirk Kuyt's only goal of the half volley. It was a poor

Was there a foul by Samir Nasri? Maybe he said something. It is

fabulous stop. He has rectified his mistake. It is not well dealt with

by Joe Hart. But in the end, it is on it. Another top-drawer

performance. This is not particularly good, but this is

is keeping Manchester City in this. He spots the danger. His movement

is brilliant. He is away. Very similar to the chance Stewart

Downing had in the league game Zabaleta. If he had left it for

Dirk Kuyt,... Maybe not. It still would have had to have been some

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Dzeko! A fantastic ball from Aleksandar Kolarov, and all he had

to do was get a touch. Manchester City are in front, 2-1 on the night,

2-2 on aggregate. They have two away goals. The corridor of

uncertainty for defenders. It was a great ball. An easy finish for Edin

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are backing front! With not much more than 15 minutes to play.

Kuyt is the instigator, he holds the ball up, he comes round Joleon

Lescott. A great ball to Craig Bellamy. A great finish. I do not

know if Craig Bellamy was expected it back, but he dealt with it well.

Glen Johnson passed the ball back back inside, it gave Pepe Reina a

split-second to get into a better position. It was a great ball.

Silva. Manchester City have a throw-in. And they have the

flicked his hand at it. Liverpool used to go to Wembley so often.

They have not been there for 16 years. They are going now.

Liverpool against Cardiff City in the League Cup final of 2012. Kenny

Dalglish Tate Liverpool back to Wembley. It has been an epic semi-

final from start to finish. Liverpool are in the final. They

have beaten Manchester City on aggregate, 3-2. They have drawn 2-2

tonight. It is Liverpool against Cardiff under the arch at Wembley.

Congratulations, it was a marvellous evening, a tremendous

game. It was a great spectacle for everybody. Overall, we deserved to

win. On the night, Joe Hart had a fantastic performance, which must

have been pleasing for them. The attitude and commitment they showed

when they went behind both times and came back, and got on level

terms, it was fantastic. Everything that we were disappointed with on

Saturday was there in abundance tonight. It was contradictory to

Saturday. I am happy with the performance. When you play against

Liverpool, you score two, against a team at Liverpool, you do a good

performance. You are disappointed when they have been mistakes, but

we can do nothing. It must have been really frustrating, with Joe

Hart. I am glad he is English, he will be one of the best goalkeepers

in the world. Some of the saves he made, we could have won this game a

lot more comfortably if it were not for him. But thankfully, we have

got a world-class goalkeeper as well. We are delighted to go to

Wembley, it has been too long. I am really happy for the supporters.

was aged huge performance from Craig Bellamy. His work-rate, his

willingness. Quality was the word you missed. And the effort you --

It was a cracking cup-tie, and a great atmosphere at Anfield. It was

the perfect response to the performance against Bolton at the

weekend. They were really poor against Bolton, Kenny Dalglish

criticise them in the programme tonight. That is the standard the

club have set themselves, and what a response he got. I've really

enjoyed it, it had everything, the drama, and I was surprised at

Roberto Mancini's line-up, with three centre-backs. I wonder if he

had doubts about Stephane Savic. It did not work. He changed at half-

time. Then, we saw the better Manchester City. They are the most

prolific team in the Premier League, they need goals, they should attack,

but it's won both ways. Roberto Mancini was left to rue the tale of

I thought this was a dive by Edin Dzeko. Charlie Adam takes his wind.

The referee has got a good look at this. Charlie Adam was making it a

legitimate attempt to clear the ball, and the referee misses it.

That is what Roberto Mancini was serious about. This is the second

one. The hand moved to what the ball. It is desperately harsh.

first, I thought he had to give it because he was throwing himself at

the ball. But it hit Micah Richards on the knee. The ball is going over

the bar, and it hits him in the hand. The referee is five or six

yards away. I do not think he could have seen the deflection. We can

see that Micah Richards has not tried to block the ball. Everybody

watching that would say he is desperately unlucky. A couple of

notable performances. Steven Gerrard was complimentary about Joe

Hart. He was inspirational. Over both legs. Steven Gerrard said he

could have won it much more comfortably. He made at least six

fantastic saves. On a couple of them, he had no right to get to

them. That is world class. He is smiling to himself. He enjoys

making saves. He is the best goalkeeper in the country, the best

goalkeeper in Europe, and he will be the best in the world. As for

Craig Bellamy, we know what he brings to the field of play, it is

incredible, his effort. He was a thorn. He is enthusiastic, he makes

the players. He scored the goal against Bolton, the only player who

came out of the game with any credit. He was so good tonight. It

was a big decision to play him in so that Andy Carroll. -- instead of

Andy Carroll. He can use both feet. It must have given him great

pleasure to play against the club that released him, and he had to

play in the Championship. He is a star. He now goes on to play

Cardiff City, his hometown club, who secured their place in the

final at the expense of Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace led 1-0

who scored in the first leg for Crystal Palace, has scored against

them in the second, in seven minutes. Straight away from Cardiff,

down the right hand side. You put the ball in the box and you ask

questions of the opposition. He is in an awful position to defend that

ball and in the end he puts it in. He has completely changed this cup-

tie. His team looks fragile at the the night and Malky Mackay's side

are on top. Whittingham is such an expert with the dead-ball. A better

Whittingham. A great start to the game from Cardiff and the manager

fans behind the goal as the ball went in. Shirt-pulling at the first

-- far post, definite shirt-pulling. Anywhere else on the pitch and it

is a foul so it has to be a penalty. Crystal Palace have only scored

eight goals in the last 10 games. to take it early with the keeper

coming out. He has just gone Cardiff. It is a superb turn, he

just swivels and hits it with his weaker foot. A quality finish and

deserves better. Notebook back in card offence. Well, you can see

Miller, his movement, causes real problem for the defender. He is all

over him. Splendid goalkeeping. is, isn't it? Speroni. He is taking

that out of the top corner. That is there for the taking. There is not

was Palace's first big chance of the game. Zaha, once he gets into

that position, he has to do better What is he doing? He just needs to

be patient. Miller can't believe he are heading into extra time. 1-0 on

the night. An own goal by Gardner after seven minutes. An extra half

Scrambling around in that box. It took an age to fall to a Cardiff

player to take a strike. Almost woodwork and Cardiff see another

chance come and go. He lays it off, great technique, but just can't

keep it down enough to hit the back man advantage to play it around

Crystal Palace. Listen to the noise. nearly won it at the death. I think

it was Gunnarsson. Yes. Goodness and once more! -- Gunnarsson once

more. Three times they have hit the post. A fantastic delivery, you

wonder about the marking. Maybe he sees it late, but he should have

put that in the back of the net. 0 for Cardiff on the night because

of the own goal by Anthony Gardner in the 7th minute. And because he

scored in the first leg, it is one- 1 on aggregate. We go to penalties.

you want to do. Not even hitting the target. He has delivered it. --

Ian Evatt. Jermaine Easter against his home town club. Poor penalty.

scores. That was a lot better, very convincing, straight down the

middle. The pressure is on a 21- year-old boy from Croydon. From

Ashburton School. Sean Scannell. It fantastic save again. He sight and

out. It will be the substitute for Cardiff City. Parolee ruck --

Speroni wrong-footed. Excellent. Not much of a run up, did not need

it. The pressure is on Palace now. They need to relieve some of the

pressure. The 27-year-old Australian. Lovely penalty.

Certainly was and the keeper nearly got it as well. Whittingham.

deserves that, the way he has played tonight. Emphatic finish.

has to score. The keeper has been on top so far. Cardiff Head to

Wembley and Crystal Palace so very, very brave. They finally crack in

the penalty shoot-out. Crystal Palace's heart is broken. For them,

the dream is over. For Cardiff City, they are at Wembley for the fourth

time in five years. We I've got so much belief in them, they have such

great character. They have a resilience about them and they

don't know when to lie down and let it go. The crowd tonight played

their part and really pushed the team on. The spirit tonight, they

deserved it. From the first minute to the last, we tried to win that

game in a good finish. A tremendous night for Cardiff City. I was a

spectator from most of the game. When I had a chance to get involved,

it was great for me. Obviously very disappointed with the outcome, but

I thought the lads were tremendous. The desire and the effort they

showed, especially in extra time, I am very proud of them. I'm sure

you're aware of this, but you were two minutes of away from going out

of this competition against Huddersfield on a rainy night in

August. You're on your waiter Wembley. -- on your way to Wembley.

We had a lot of players out against Watford. Everybody at the club has

had their money's worth. The owners have come over from Malaysia

tonight. The directors, the people that have backed me, the play is

that have been here, everybody is pushing in the same direction. --

players. Very well done to Malky Mackay and Cardiff. I know

statistics can be misleading... On creating chances alone, did Cardiff

deserved to go through? No! It took an own goal to go through. They

dominated possession, they created a lot, they did not finish.

Basically, Palace held out with 10 men and went to extra time. When it

comes to penalties it is a lottery. They did ever so well. The home

crowd got behind their team, their work -- the away supporters were

trying to back the boys. It came down to penalties. It is a lottery.

Validation for Tom Heaton after the first leg. I felt he was at fault

for the goal. He came for a cross he could not get to. He saved from

Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell. It is about holding your nerve. In

the end, he pulled off two saves. He was a spectator for much of the

game. Not much on target to save. That was disappointing from the

Palace perspective. They had one effort on goal in 120 minutes. I

fancy them away from home because they have Sean Scannell, Wilfried

Zaha, Darren Ambrose. It was disappointing from that aspect.

Cardiff have gone through four lots of extra time including two penalty

shoot-outs. They have plenty of resolve and will play Liverpool at

Wembley. The manager played his first team at the weekend and

Dougie Freedman played his reserves. I fancied the fresh legs, but it

did not work out that way. I wish Cardiff all the best. They are

third in the league. It has not affected their league form.

Congratulations to them. Before we go, a quick reminder of the

football coming up at the weekend. It is the forefront of the FA Cup

on Saturday so there's no Match of the Day, but we will have a

Football League Show. That's it tonight. Good to see you.