Gerrard drags Liverpool to victory

Steven Gerrard set-up and scored two as Liverpool emerged victorious from another penalty shootout to claim their seventh FA Cup following one of the great modern finals against West Ham at the Millenium Stadium.

The reigning European Champions gave themselves a mountain to climb after going down two-nil in the first half but goals from Djibril Cisse and a sensational double from captain Gerrard forced the game into extra-time and eventually penalties.

Pepe Reina was the hero of the shootout however, denying Bobby Zamora, Anton Ferdinand and Paul Konchesky from the spot.

Liverpool, no strangers to shootouts having won eight out of nine prior to today, scored through Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise and Gerrard.

The captain marked the day with two exquisite goals, the second coming in the 91st minute when Liverpool trailed 3-2.

Gerrard, struggling with an injury, somehow managed to drive a rocket of a strike low and to Shaka Hislop's right, to rescue the Reds' challenge.

Liverpool trailed 2-1 at the break after a blistering first half sprung into life in the 21st minute when West Ham split the Liverpool defence and took the lead.

Yossi Benayoun, the first Israeli to play in the final, found Dean Ashton who wrong-footed the Liverpool defence with a cute pass that found Lionel Scaloni wide on the right.

The Italian defender's low hard drive into the centre of the goal was deflected into his own net by Jamie Carragher after a mix-up with goalkeeper Reina.

Eight minutes later West Ham doubled their lead when Reina spilled a shot from Matthew Etherington straight to Dean Ashton who swept it home, just inside the post from close range.

But Liverpool came storming back and although Peter Crouch had a goal disallowed for offside after half-an-hour, they scored one that counted two minutes later.

Djibril Cisse timed his run perfectly to meet a long Steven Gerrard ball first time and volley a low shot past goalkeeper Shaka Hislop to make it 2-1 and throw the game wide open again.

Liverpool opened the second period brightly but it was Benayoun who forced the first save from Reina before the Liverpool defence scrambled clear.

Rafa Benitez's side were not to be denied in their quest for an equaliser though and in the 54th minute Gerrard latched on to Crouch's knock-down and drilled the ball into the top corner from eight yards.

The lead was shortlived however, as Paul Konchesky's cross looped over Claudio Reina's head and into the Liverpool net 10 minutes later. A fortuitous goal but one that left Liverpool in need of another special intervention from their captain.

It came, but it came at the death when Liverpool appeared exhausted and out of contention.

Having seen another hopeful ball into the box redirected by the inspired Danny Gabbidon, Gerrard, struggling with cramp, arrived from nowhere and drove a 30 yard volley into the bottom left hand corner to deny West Ham their first cup triumph since 1980.

Liverpool had more of the possession in extra-time but it was cramp and injuries that were causing the most problems for both teams at this stage.

Minutes from the end however, West Ham who came closest.  A hopeful flicked header from a fee-kick was turned on to the post by Reina before the injured Marlon Harewood skewed wide from six yards.

The cruel decider of penalties followed and it was spot-kick specialist Reina who came out on top and brought the perfect end to an impressive domestic season for Liverpool.