Liverpool survive Cardiff scare to win League Cup

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (L) celebrates with Jamie Carragher and son James with the trophy after their English League Cup final soccer match against Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium in London, Feb 26, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Liverpool won the English League Cup for the eighth time on Sunday but were given a huge fright by Championship Cardiff City who snatched a goal deep into extra time to salvage a 2-2 draw before going down 3-2 in a penalty shootout.

There were hugely contrasting emotions for Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, who lifted the trophy in his first club appearance at Wembley, and his cousin, Cardiff substitute Anthony, whose missed spotkick handed Liverpool victory.

Liverpool's famous "You'll Never Walk Alone" anthem rang out and fireworks blasted into the sky as their players celebrated the club's first silverware since the 2006 FA Cup, but Gerrard, who missed a penalty in the shootout, still found time to console his crestfallen cousin.

"It's always cruel when it goes to penalties," he told the BBC. "We got through by the skin of our teeth."

"It was always going to be one sad and one celebrating. I feel for Anthony and for Cardiff," he added.

After Ben Turner's goal near the end of extra time took the 52nd League Cup final to penalties, Dirk Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson converted from the spot to complete Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's collection of major English domestic trophies, 14 months after he returned as manager.

"It's a first trophy for six years so it's a very good day for the football club," Dalglish told reporters.

"It was a difficult game and Cardiff represented their club very well. Even when Dirk (Kuyt) scored in extra time they were very tired but they dug in to get an equaliser."

Liverpool's massed armies of red clad fans arrived for their first visit to the new Wembley in party mood but it looked like going flat as Cardiff, bidding to become the first Welsh club to win the League Cup, threatened a huge shock.

The Premier League side had been served a warning of Cardiff's threat when Kenny Miller wasted an early chance but they did not learn and when Miller's slide rule pass dissected Liverpool's defence on 19 minutes Joe Mason drilled a low shot past Pepe Reina into the corner.

Charlie Adam, who scored for Blackpool in a Championship playoff final against Cardiff at Wembley in 2010, went close for Liverpool when his low blast from 25 metres whistled past the post but chances were few and far between for the front duo of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

The sides traded chances at the start of the second half with Miller firing wide for Cardiff and Suarez's shot from an acute angle turned out by Tom Heaton.

Liverpool's Luis Suarez celebrates with the trophy after their English League Cup final soccer match against Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium in London, Feb 26, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]