For all of its virtues, maybe its greatest is its ability to create a feeling of drama in these kinds of situations.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team required penalties to defeat Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley earlier this year, just as they did in that match.
As unlikely as it may seem, the Reds can still achieve the quadruple owing to their FA Cup victory. They would be the first English side to accomplish this feat by winning all three domestic cups and the European Cup.
This season, there are two trophies in the trophy case, but there is room for two more. Why are Liverpool fans swooning? Because of this. A new chapter in history is yet open.
In the same vein as the League Cup final, the scoreless 120 minutes belied the high calibre of the contest. On the 150th anniversary of football’s oldest cup tournament, perhaps it was right that the final was decided in the most theatrical of ways.
Cesar Azplicueta missed Chelsea’s second penalty, and Liverpool’s fifth (Sadio Mane). This year’s League Cup final ended 11-10 on penalties after the first 10 penalties failed to determine a winner, and the goalkeepers had to step up.
Mason Mount missed a penalty, but Alisson Becker saved it, paving the way for Kostas Tsimikaus to become an unlikely hero.
While he is not a regular starter for the Reds, the Greece international calmly slotted home to elicit jubilant celebrations from those in red.
There were flares set off by the fans and the players as the atmosphere was tinged with red when Tsimikas was enveloped by Liverpool supporters.
At Wembley Stadium, Liverpool fans sang their club’s hymn, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” in celebration of a team that had won the FA Cup for the first time in 30 years.
This Liverpool team is so good, though, that the celebrations will have to be short-lived because there are still two Premier League games in which they may try to overtake Manchester City’s three point lead at the top of the table.
Many opportunities
Even a typical event like this, with a marching band before kickoff and Royalty delivering the trophy, acknowledges global events in some small manner.
There was no shortage of political remarks at this year’s Super Bowl. Fans booed the English national song, captains and officials stood with the Ukrainian flag that had the words “PEACE” painted in black capital letters, and shortly before this oldest of competitions began, the players took the knee.
Liverpool’s first opportunity came just a few minutes into the game. The Reds dominated the first 15 minutes and should have scored at least once, but Thiago, Luis Diaz, Mo Salah, and Sadio Mane all failed to find the back of the nett.
Chelsea were second best for the majority of the first half, but the Londoners had the finest chance to go ahead when Liverpool’s Alisson made a spectacular diving save to deny Marcos Alonso.
Liverpool’s increased nervousness throughout the first half was exacerbated by the injury to Salah, the club’s top scorer so far this season, but the Reds were still able to demonstrate their control before the interval even without Salah.
Diogo Jota, who replaced Mohamed Salah, should have given Jurgen Klopp’s men the lead before halftime.
Chelsea got off to a good start in the second half, just like Liverpool did in the first. Alonso’s threatening free-kick hit the crossbar again, denying him a goal for the second time in as many games.
During this titanic battle between the best sides in English football, there were plenty of scoring opportunities: Jota, Diaz, and Andy Robertson all scored for Liverpool, while Christian Pulisic netted two goals for Chelsea.
It took my breath away. It was a good show. As both sets of fans cranked up the volume on a lovely summer evening in London, it created an electric environment.
All that was lacking was a specific objective. The minutes ticked by, substitutions were made, and tired legs made mistakes, but no one was able to score.
During the 82nd minute, Edouard Mendy stopped another of Diaz’s chances, and his gesture reflected the feelings of all supporters watching: can either goalie ever be beaten?
At the end of the first half, Robertson missed a shot that would have given Diaz a second chance. Despite all of the opportunities and excitement, the game ended with a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation.
As penalties loomed big, the intensity of the game dwindled in extra time and few chances were produced.
As a result, Chelsea became the first team to lose three FA Cup finals in a row, while still being sanctioned by the UK government.
Afterward, manager Thomas Tuchel commented, “We are sorry, but we are also proud because we left everything on the field.”