Yet another incredible episode in the golden history of Liverpool FC was played out on May 13th 2006. The FA Cup Final - a match hosted at The Millenium Stadium - an extraordinary win against West Ham United that will forever be synonymous with Steven Gerrard - who at points was almost unable to walk as cramp wracked his aching limbs - somehow managed to carry the Reds towards their 7th FA Cup win when he scored a wonderful goal with only seconds remaining.
The game was end-to-end stuff, with first one team taking the lead then the other, a truly thrilling match-up.
Liverpool came from behind in dramatic style to draw 3-3, go through the pain barrier in extra time and hold their nerves in the resulting shoot-out - just as they had done in Istanbul the year before.
The game was end-to-end stuff, with first one team taking the lead then the other, a truly thrilling match-up.
Liverpool came from behind in dramatic style to draw 3-3, go through the pain barrier in extra time and hold their nerves in the resulting shoot-out - just as they had done in Istanbul the year before.
Two lapses in concentration at the back gave the Hammers a two goal advantage after just 25 minutes. West Ham took the lead on the 21st minute when Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso lost the ball in the middle, Dean Ashton sought out Lionel Scaloni with smart through-ball and Scaloni’s cross was unwittingly played past Pepe Reina by the backtracking Jamie Carragher.
Just 7 minutes later the atmosphere around the stadium intensified as West Ham increased their score. A rare poor piece of play from Reina let Dean Ashton in following a Matthew Etherington shot, and the forward netted from a yard out.
On the half hour mark, Liverpool did manage to put the ball in the back of the net, however, Peter Crouch's header was ruled out for being offside. Liverpool only had to wait sixty seconds though before they had the ball in the net again when Djibril Cisse got on the end of Gerrard's raking pass, firing the ball past Shaka Hislop with a lovely volley.
The opening 45 minutes ended at 2-1 with West Ham brimming with confidence as the first half finished 2-1. Pepe Reina made up for his previous slip-up with two essential blocks just seconds apart follwing the restart.
Only nine minutes into the half, the Reds pulled the scoreline back to 2-2 as Steven Gerrard completed his side's recovery from a 2 goal deficit rifling a stunning volley into the top of the net after Peter Crouch's headed knockback.
But just as Liverpool appeared to have gained control though, West Ham regained the lead in strange fashion, Paul Konchesky's attempted cross from the left drifted over Pepe Reina's head and fell in the corner of the goal.
As the clock ticked on to 90 minutes, the Reds pushed up the pitch in search of an equalising goal. With the clock running low on time, Steven Gerrard was Liverpool's hero once again when his first-time shot from fully 35 yards out whizzed past Hislop's right and into the net.
No-one will ever forget the 30 minutes that followed as Liverpool's cramp count continued to rise, Momo Sissoko, Djibril Cisse, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher & Steven Gerrard all on the struggling list. Their physically exhausting campaign had taken its toll with the difficult playing conditions at Cardiff - combined with this being their 62nd match of the campaign simply seemed too much.
With only minutes of the game remaining, West Ham had the perfect opportunity to finish the game off when Pepe Reina pushed Reo-Coker's headed shot onto the post but from the rebound, the hobbling Marlon Harewood put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Pepe Reina had joined Liverpool the previous summer with a good record of saving penalties, and he showed why as he helped the Reds clinch their seventh FA Cup win with three essential saves.
Just 7 minutes later the atmosphere around the stadium intensified as West Ham increased their score. A rare poor piece of play from Reina let Dean Ashton in following a Matthew Etherington shot, and the forward netted from a yard out.
On the half hour mark, Liverpool did manage to put the ball in the back of the net, however, Peter Crouch's header was ruled out for being offside. Liverpool only had to wait sixty seconds though before they had the ball in the net again when Djibril Cisse got on the end of Gerrard's raking pass, firing the ball past Shaka Hislop with a lovely volley.
The opening 45 minutes ended at 2-1 with West Ham brimming with confidence as the first half finished 2-1. Pepe Reina made up for his previous slip-up with two essential blocks just seconds apart follwing the restart.
Only nine minutes into the half, the Reds pulled the scoreline back to 2-2 as Steven Gerrard completed his side's recovery from a 2 goal deficit rifling a stunning volley into the top of the net after Peter Crouch's headed knockback.
But just as Liverpool appeared to have gained control though, West Ham regained the lead in strange fashion, Paul Konchesky's attempted cross from the left drifted over Pepe Reina's head and fell in the corner of the goal.
As the clock ticked on to 90 minutes, the Reds pushed up the pitch in search of an equalising goal. With the clock running low on time, Steven Gerrard was Liverpool's hero once again when his first-time shot from fully 35 yards out whizzed past Hislop's right and into the net.
No-one will ever forget the 30 minutes that followed as Liverpool's cramp count continued to rise, Momo Sissoko, Djibril Cisse, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher & Steven Gerrard all on the struggling list. Their physically exhausting campaign had taken its toll with the difficult playing conditions at Cardiff - combined with this being their 62nd match of the campaign simply seemed too much.
With only minutes of the game remaining, West Ham had the perfect opportunity to finish the game off when Pepe Reina pushed Reo-Coker's headed shot onto the post but from the rebound, the hobbling Marlon Harewood put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Pepe Reina had joined Liverpool the previous summer with a good record of saving penalties, and he showed why as he helped the Reds clinch their seventh FA Cup win with three essential saves.
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