Liverpool kept their hopes up for an unprecedented quartet as Konstantinos Tsimikas scored a surprise penalty kick to seal Chelsea’s FA Cup final win.
the game:
Liverpool dominated the first half of the match, with Luis Dazz posing a particular danger on the left flank. After a superb shot from Alexander-Arnold, the Colombian was saved in the eighth minute as Edward Mendy stopped his attempt professionally, as Nathan Chalobah smashed the rebound away from the line under pressure from Salah.
After Christian Pulisic was created by Mount, Chelsea began to stabilize, Alonso had the best chance in the first half hour after Pulisic passed him on the left in the 28th minute, but Alisson saved his low attempt near the post. .
Salah fell with a thigh injury five minutes later, and was replaced by Diogo Jota, who missed Liverpool’s best chance in the half when he threw a close-kick at Andy Robertson’s cross on the left wing.
Chelsea had a raft of chances in the second half, with Alonso barely hitting a cross from the left after Pulisic found space on the right. Alonso hit the crossbar from a direct free kick on the right flank after Alisson blocked a powerful shot from the American.
Played by Naby Keita, Liverpool responded with Diaz’s wide shot barely from distance, and Jota’s shot past the post.
After a tempting cross from substitute Milner, Jurgen Klopp’s side probably had their best chance in the second half when Robertson hit the post from close range. Although Liverpool finished well, as they did in the Carabao Cup final in February, the 90 minutes without goals pushed into overtime.
Chelsea started the best extra half hour and were awarded a penalty early in extra time after substitute Ziyech was brought down by Ibrahima Konate, but referee Craig Pawson rejected it.
Both sides were weary, and sanctions seemed to loom large.
Penalties:
After Cesar Azpilicueta scored the second penalty kick for the Blues, Sadio Mane missed the opportunity to win the poor fifth goal, and Liverpool won in the penalty shootout.
But Mason Mount missed Chelsea’s seventh kick, allowing Tsimikas to score the winning goal and keep Liverpool’s four-legged dreams alive.
Chelsea’s goals came from Marcos Alonso, Reese James, Ross Barkley, Jorginho and Hakim Ziyech, while Liverpool’s goals came from James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
