| Cardiff Upset Odds to Take Liverpool to Penalties in Carling Cup Final |
Championship side Cardiff City threw the script out of the window yesterday as they took Premiership team Liverpool to penalties in the Carling Cup Final.Liverpool won 3-2 but the fact that they failed to beat Cardiff City over 90 minutes and extra time meant that the bookmakers had got it slightly wrong with their predictions.
Many bookmakers were anticipating a walkover with Cardiff City ranked at 4/1 to win before kick off. However, a 19th minute Joe Mason opener had some viewers speculating that a giant-killing was on the cards. Holding the lead until half time, Cardiff City fans were in dream land. However, a predatory strike from Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel on the hour saw the match levelled and it remained that way until extra time.
Liverpool thought they had sealed victory in the 108th minute when substitute Dirk Kuyt smashed a rebound into the bottom right hand corner past a helpless Tom Heaton in the Cardiff goal. The script was then ripped up when Cardiff City pressured for an equaliser in the dying minutes of extra time. A corner came in from Peter Whittingham and after a goal mouth scramble, Cardiff centre back Ben Turner poked home the equaliser to take the cup classic to penalties.
Sadly, the fairytale ending was not to be for Cardiff fans as Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, missed the decisive penalty to hand Liverpool the trophy.
It was a brave effort by the Championship promotion-chasing outfit and their performance has had a positive impact on their odds for promotion. William Hill is offering them at 3/1 to go up.
Liverpool’s cup win is being regarded as a potential kick start to another trophy winning era under Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish became only the seventh manager to win all three major English competitions. William Hill has Liverpool listed at 7/1 to repeat their feat and retain the Carling Cup next season.
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