DOUBLED ’N’
Quad Squad edge Cup Final on pens... but Salah
KOSTAS TSIMIKAS wrote himself into Anfield and FA Cup folklore after he held his nerve from the spot to keep alive Jurgen Klopp’s impossible dream.
The Greece international finally separated these two teams, firing home the winning penalty in the shoot-out after 120 minutes’ of enthralling entertainment, as the Reds’ quadruple hung in the balance.
What impact Mo Salah’s early injury will have on Liverpool’s Quad dream remains to be seen, with the Champions
League Final against Real Madrid on May 28.
Nothing could prise Chelsea and Liverpool apart in the Carabao Cup three months ago and it was a similar story at here as fortunes ebbed and flowed.
Despite a stellar cast-list, no one was capable of writing their own narrative as both teams squandered good chances to settle it in normal time.
The additional 30 minutes failed to find a winner – and so it went down to a test from the spot for only the third time in the competition’s history.
In fact, Liverpool were the beneficiaries when they last won the famous old pot, 16 years ago, defeating West Ham in similar fashion at the Millennium Stadium.
They had maintained their cool in the Carabao Cup – winning 11-10 on pens – but they did not need as many attempts this time out to land the second leg of their historic trophy bid.
It appeared they would do it within the regulation first five shots from 12 yards after Cesar Azpilicueta slammed the Blues’ second effort against the upright.
Sadio Mane had the chance to seal it with the Reds’ final regulation penalty only for Edouard
Mendy to produce a brilliant low left-handed save to take it to sudden-death.
However, whatever Chelsea’s keeper could do, Alisson Becker matched – keeping out Mason
Mount’s shot. And that left defender Tsimikas, 26, to grab the glory with a low effort into the bottom corner as Klopp’s players and backroom staff wildly celebrated.
The Reds had flown out of the blocks, Trent Alexanderarnold delivering a throughball of the highest quality for Luis Diaz to run onto.
The England international used the outside of his right boot and his colleague didn’t need to break stride before collecting and bearing down on Mendy’s goal.
His shot was only partially blocked by the keeper’s legs and it needed Trevor
Chalobah to belt the ball clear as it threatened to cross the line.
It took Chelsea a full quarterhour before they secured any meaningful possession in Liverpool’s half but, by the end of the opening 45 minutes, they had posed as much of a threat.
Christian Pulisic steered a shot just beyond the post after Mason Mount fed him inside the area, and then he fashioned a chance when he sent Marcos Alonso through.
But the pass was too heavy and allowed Alisson the time to close the gap and block.
There was an undoubted boost for Chelsea just after the half-hour when Salah sat on the
Wembley turf. It seemed ominous as the little Egyptian didn’t appear to have been caught in an obvious incident.
He forlornly made his way from the pitch, Diogo Jota coming on in his place. Initial reports of a possible groin problem do not bode well for the finale to the campaign.
Romelu Lukaku blasted over when put through by Jorginho – and the second-half started as it finished, with Chelsea fashioning three chances in the opening two-and-a-half minutes.
It looked just a matter of time before one team would create a breakthrough. But, like two prizefighters, the pair of them simply slugged it out, trading punches without ever delivering the killer blow.
In fact, the two clearest opportunities arrived in the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Diaz – who must hold the record for the most shots on goal in an FA Cup Final – took a pass from Mane and clattered a drive against the upright.
Moments later, Andy Robertson did likewise after a move spanning the length of the field.
It wasn’t the last meaningful action. That came later. And what a finale it was for Alisson and Tsimikas.