FA Cup 2008 Final results:
Cardiff City 0 - 1 Portsmouth
SUMMARY:
Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth won the FA Cup for season 2007/2008 with a 1-0 victory over Championship outfit Cardiff City at Wembley stadium on Saturday.
Pompey took the lead in the 37th minute through Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu after Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman palmed a low cross by John Utaka straight to the lanky striker to half-volley the ball home.
Cardiff had been dominating up to that point but started to look shaky after the goal and hung on desperately for the half-time whistle. Portsmouth's class began to show in the second half and had further opportunities to extend the lead but Cardiff held firm with substitute Aaron Ramsay, a promising youngster, causing Pompey all sorts of problems with his fancy footwork.
Portsmouth held onto win their first FA Cup since 1939 while manager Harry Redknapp won his first major trophy in a long managerial career. Pompey will play in next season's UEFA Cup courtesy of winning the FA Cup - their first foray into European football.
English giants Liverpool has unveiled their all-new home kit for the next two seasons with pre-orders now available through the club's official website.
Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina models the new home kit
Designed and manufactured by sporting giants Adidas, the new kit features a V-neck collar that is outlined in white - the Liverpool crest remains on the players left. The famous three stripes of Adidas is cut off just past the shoulder blades on the short sleeve shirt while the cut off on the long sleeve shirt is down at the bottom of the sleeve and in the form of an arched shape.
While the current kit appears to be more of a modern design, the new home kit is more retro with modern styling cues.
The new goalkeeper shirt for 2008 - 2010
The new goalkeeper shirt worn by Pepe Reina for the next two seasons is entirely black with red stripes along the sleeves - an Adidas trademark - and red dots on the side from the underarm down to the waist area. There are also red inserts on the raised colour.
Man Utd 0-1 Portsmouth
Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea
Bristol Rovers 1-5 West Brom
Cardiff 2-0 Middlesbrough
The magic of the FA Cup is alive and kicking!
For the first time in 100 years, there is only one top-flight team - Portsmouth - left in the semi-finals of the world's oldest cup competition for season 2007-08. The shock of seismic proportions took place at Oakwell Stadium on Saturday when home side Barnsley took on big-spenders Chelsea.
The home side clearly were not satisfied with the scalp of Liverpool and so they added to their reputation as giant-killers with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea courtesy of a Kayode Odejayi header. Despite having their fair share of scares along the way, Barnsley prevailed and in the 66th minute, Marciano van Homoet floated in a piercing cross to the heart of the visitors penalty area. Odejayi launched himself highest into the air and managed to rise in front of the outstretched hands of Cudicini and nod home - cue delirium in Oakwell.
The remaining top-flight club in the competition went through to the semis courtesy of a gritty 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Pompey were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when United keeper Kuszczak tripped Milan Baros. With he Polish goalkeeper sent off for his foul, England defender Rio Ferdinand found himself between the sticks but despite correctly guessing the direction of Muntari's spot-kick, it was too well placed in the right-hand corner and earned Portsmouth an unlikely victory.
Barely 24 hours after Barnsley upset Chelsea, the FA Cup upsets continued with Cardiff beating Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Goals from Peter Whittingham and Roger Johnson in the first half helped the Championship side on its way to a famous victory and a place at the famous Wembley stadium for the semis.
Championship outfit Sheffield United gave Premier League side Middlesbrough a huge scare in the FA Cup overnight with a narrow 1-0 defeat after extra-time at the Riverside Stadium.
United keeper Patrick Kenny was both hero and villain - pulling off a string of spectacular saves to deny Afonso Alves, Luke Young, Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli before disaster struck in the 23rd minute of extra time. Mido's shot deflected off United defender Chris Morgan and in complete desperation, Kenny could only help the ball into his own net.
Despite the home side dominating proceedings from the outset, they struggled to find a way through the Sheffield defence and keeper Patrick Kenny who was in inspired form.
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell praised the efforts of his goalie and refused to blame him for the Boro winner: "It was a cruel goal to concede, and after all the work-rate and endeavour we put in I thought we might have earned a bit of luck.
"There is nothing Paddy Kenny could have done about it. He is a very good goalkeeper and someone I rate very highly and it is particularly cruel that it should happen to him.
"We can go back home on the bus feeling slightly aggrieved, but the first thing you ask of any group of players is that they give you everything and these lads did that here."
Middlesbrough will not play Cardiff in the last eight of the FA Cup 2007-08.
Barnsley's reward for knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Saturday is a lucrative home-tie against reigning FA Cup holders Chelsea in the quarter final.
The Tykes' shock 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield came courtesy of a Brian Howard injury-time strike that dumped Rafa Benitez's men out of the competition and to heap further pressure on the Merseyside club.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's thumping 4-0 win over Arsenal in the fifth round pits them against fellow Premier League side Portsmouth, a side they beat enroute to last season's FA Cup final which they lost to Chelsea.
Bristol Rovers will play West Bromwich Albion at home while the remaining quarter-final tie will see Sheffield United or Middlesbrough host Cardiff at home.
The Premiership 'Big Four' of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are through to the next round of the FA Cup with wins over Newcastle, Wigan, Havant and Waterlooville and Tottenham respectively.
The most interesting match-up of the round was without a doubt the clash between the Merseyside giants and The Blue Star Conference South side. Havant and Waterlooville's fairytale run in the world's oldest club competition took them to Anfield and they twice shocked the home side by taking the lead twice include the 8th minute opener by Richard Pacquette.
But the far more experienced home side hit back before the break before running away with the match courtesy of a brilliant hat-trick from Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch's last minute goal.
While the outcome of the match came as no surprise, it was the great spirit in which the match was played in that really brought back the magic of the FA Cup. The Kop applauded every single Havant player's name when they were announced, and the non-league club's fans sung happily along with 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Tomorrow sees the most romantic game in the FA Cup for many years as Blue South Conference South team Havant and Waterlooville from Hampshire travel to Anfield to take on the mighty Liverpool.
One person you might not expect to get caught up in the romance of it all is Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Fergie has had a bad press over the years for his dour attitude and his moods and his seeming lack of humour.
It seems that Fergie has arranged for the Havant and Waterlooville squad to train at United's training ground today, and has invited them to be guests of honour at the United game against Tottenham on Sunday.
This is a fine gesture by the great one and shows that he has a heart after all. Doesn't it?
Am I being mischevious to suggest that Fergie is trying all he can to help the minnows cause an upset at his great rivals from Merseyside? Earlier this week he got involved in the troubles at Anfield by putting forward his opinions about the row between the manager and the owners. There is no doubt that Sir Alex is enjoying the goings on at Liverpool, and I think he would probably forsake the title this year if he could help Havant win tomorrow!
Good luck to the part-timers, they'll have a wonderful couple of days, and if they avoid humiliation then they will have great memories for ever. It's what the FA Cup is all about.
For the first time in a few seasons the magic of the FA Cup has reappeared at last. Havant and Waterlooville of the Conference South last night beat League one leaders Swansea 4-2 in their third round replay.
This exceptional performance has earned the part-time minnows a mouth watering trip to Anfield in the fourth round to take on the might of Liverpool.
This is what the FA Cup should be all about, and with the top teams putting out weakened sides, and the value of the once great competition being called into question, this one tie might just resurrect the famous old FA Cup to it's previous glories.
The non-leaguers from Hampshire will make a cool half a million pounds from this tie, and that will put them in a position to become a force to be reckoned with in the Blue Square leagues.
Of course, Havant are very unlikely to get away from Anfield without a severe beating, but nothing will ruin a fantastic day for the club and their fans.
Liverpool blasted their way through to the 4th round of the FA Cup with a thumping 5-0 win over Luton in their 3rd round replay.
A hat-trick from talismanic captain Steven Gerrard plus other goals from Ryan Babel and Sami Hyypia eased the pressure on under-fire boss Rafa Benitez for the time being after the revelation over the weekend that German great Jurgen Klinsmann had been sounded out about the possibility of becoming the club's next manager by the American owners.
Having been forced into a replay by a League One outfit, Benitez avoided the possibility of a humiliating exit by fielding a full-strength side for the encounter with defensive lynchpin Jamie Carragher named as captain on his 500th appearance for the club.
Benitez was happy with his side's performance and said: "I was not thinking too much about this, I was thinking about the game.
I'm really happy because we won 5-0 and progressed in the competition.
We knew would be difficult to score the first goal but afterwards it would be an open game.
We had a lot of chances and they were really hard with a lot of players behind the ball. We were trying to do our job and they were trying to theirs."
In other third round replays, wins were recorded for Bury, Millwall, West Brom and Tottenham.
The new year has yet to bring any luck for Liverpool after they were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Luton at Kenilworth Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup.
Adding further weight to the criticism that the Reds rely too heavily on talismanic duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, a team boasting eight internationals still failed to see off a struggling Championship outfit.
Despite taking the lead through England striker Peter Crouch in the 72nd minute, the home side were level inside three minutes when Liverpool defender John Arne Riise turned a cross from Drew Talbot past his own goalkeeper, Charles Itandje.
The Liverpool strikeforce of Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt lacked a cutting edge as chance after chance went begging until Crouch finally managed to capitalise on a catalogue of defensive errors by the home side to make a breakthrough.
As it stands, Riise's own goal has earned Luton a lucrative third round replay at Anfield in a match that would surely help ease their dire financial situation. On the other hand, Liverpool boss Benitez will have to deal with an extra match that his players would have rather done without.
In a dull affair, Chelsea ended the Double dream of Manchester United when Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba pounced in the second-half of injury time to score the only goal of the match.
The first FA cup final at the new Wembley failed to live up to expectations with both teams failing to make any significant breakthroughs throughout the match.
The first-half drew comparisons with a boxing match - both Chelsea and Manchester United sparring with one another with neither team willing to press forward in search of a killer punch.
Both teams upped the ante in the second-half with Chelsea's introduction of Dutch winger Arjen Robben sparking considerable life into the Blues' attacking play with a series of mazy runs and crosses into the United penalty box.
However, nothing could mask the level of fatigue both sides were experiencing.
Triple award-winner Cristiano Ronaldo was in stealth-mode for much of the game - his lack of involvement was one of the main reasons why United lacked the creativity they needed so much from midfield.
Inevitably, the game ended nil-all in normal time and the crowd braced themselves for the third consecutive FA cup final to head into extra-time.
Manchester United had the upper-hand and Welsh winger Ryan Giggs thought he had scored the winner when he slid in to meet a far-post cross from Rooney. TV replays showed Giggs was correct, although if it had not been for him maintaining his slide to bundle into Cech, he would not have been.
From what I saw, however, was that Cech made the save but then pulled the ball into his chest protectively and that was what made the ball cross the line.
With the match seemingly headed to penalties, Drogba exchanged a neat one-two with Frank Lampard to score the winner with just five minutes left on the clock.
15:00 UK - Wembley Stadium
Chelsea vs Manchester United
PREVIEW:
This year's FA Cup final will return to the world famous Wembley Staduim after an absence of six years while the stadium was rebuilt.
Chelsea will be looking to add the FA cup to the Carling cup the team won earlier this season. Failure to do so will see a disappointing return for club owner Roman Abramovich's millions invested into 'world-class' players.
Manchester United are looking to complete the Premier League and FA cup double yet again but will be without injured stars Louis Saha and captain Gary Neville. Chelsea are without Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho and Andriy Shevchenko.
The Red Devils went through courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half penalty when the winger took a tumble under a Jonathan Woodgate tackle.
Up stepped Ronaldo to convert his own penalty past Boro's Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer to send Middlesbrough tumbling out of the FA cup for another season.
In injury time, Boro substitute James Morrison was given a straight red-card for a reckless lunge on Ronaldo that sent the winger flying and sparked a touch-line tussle between the assistant coaches of both clubs.
Meanwhile at White Hart Lane, Tottenham's surrendering of a 3-1 lead at Stamford Bridge came back to haunt them as superb second-half strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips sent Chelsea on their way to a 2-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.
If Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko had started to look a glimpse of his former self in recent weeks, then he confirmed he was well and truly back over-night with a gem of a goal.
Entering the penalty area from the right flank on 55 minutes, Shevchenko beat Steed Malbranque by cleverly checking his run, in the process switching the ball to his left boot.
He then arced a shot pass the helpless Paul Robinson into the top corner with a simply unstoppable shot.
The lead was doubled just after the hour mark with Didier Drogba trapping a long ball with his chest for Wright-Phillips to volley home first time for an equally impressive goal.
Spurs striker Robbie Keane converted a penalty in the 79th minute but it was too little too late.
Manchester United will now meet Watford and Chelsea will meet Blackburn in the FA cup semi-finals.
Arsenal suffered their second cup blow in a week after fellow Premier League side Blackburn knocked them out of the FA cup with a spectacular strike from substitute Benni McCarthy.
After a young Gunners side lost in the final of the Carling cup to Chelsea on Sunday, an older Gunners side compromising of regular first-teamers could not find their way past Blackburn in a game they dominated for large spells.
Referee Graeme Poll did his best to displease the Gunners fans by blowing his whistle at every opportunity and turned away a very good penalty appeal when Jeremie Aliadiere was felled in the Rovers box.
Blackburn will now face Manchester City in the FA cup quarter final on March 11.
Manchester United and Middlesbrough will meet each other in the quarter finals of the FA Cup with wins against Reading and West Brom respectively overnight.
The Red Devils made a blistering start with all three goals in the first six minutes of the game coming from defender Gabriel Heinze and strikers Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
Reading refused to give up after this catastrophic set-back and took the game to the Premier League leaders by scoring two goals in but eventually came up short on what would have been a come-back of seismic proportions.
Middlesbrough again had to thank Socceroos striker Mark Viduka for scoring the vital equaliser that sent the game into extra-time and then penalties.
With both sides locked at 1-1 after extra-time, penalties loomed and Boro went on to win 5-4 in the shoot-out to setup a quarter final clash against Manchester United at home.
English Premier League outfits Chelsea and Tottenham went on scoring sprees in the FA cup with both teams recording 4-0 victories against Norwich and Fulham respectively.
Championship side Norwich was always going to be in trouble against a Chelsea team that could summon the likes of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Essien from off the bench in an easy match for the Blues as they begin an important week with a Champion's League fixture against Porto in mid-week.
Tottenham annihilated fellow Londoners Fulham with a 4-0 romp including two expertly taken goals by skipper Robbie Keane and substitute Dimitar Berbatov.
Premiership leaders Manchester United and Arsene Wenger's Arsenal had no such luck and were both held to fifth round replays after draws at home against Reading and Blackburn respectively.
Socceroos Mark Viduka and Mark Schwarzer helped their club side Middlesbrough to a thrilling penalties win in the FA cup overnight.
League one outfit Bristol City put up an amazing fight throughout the match to showcase just how tough and exciting the oldest cup competition in the world still is with Boro only just managing to scrape into the fifth round courtesy of the Aussie keeper's heroics between the sticks.
Bristol City took the lead in the 23rd minute and it took Viduka to come off the bench (he had initially been rested for this game) to equalise before Ayegbeni Yakubu had seemingly put the tie beyond the reach of Bristol in the 102nd minute.
Bristol dug deep and found an equaliser in the 117th minute to send the tie into a penalty shootout and this set the stage for Schwarzer to strut his stuff.
Schwarzer got Boro off to the perfect start by saving Jevon's opening attempt - and then, after Yakubu had hit the post with the scores at 4-4, the Australian kept out Woodman's effort to set the scene for Johnson to finally end the tension.
After the game, Viduka heaped praise on Bristol City: "It was one of those classic cup ties."
Middlesbrough will now meet West Brom in the fifth round.
125th FA Cup Final (Picture courtesy: www.theFA.com)
FA Cup Final:
Liverpool(Cisse 32, Gerrard 54, 90) 3 - 3 West Ham United(Carragher 21 og, Ashton 28, Konchesky 64)
Penalties: Liverpool 3 - 1 West Ham United
Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties.
The mighty Reds and their talismanic captain Stevie G (GettyImages)
SUMMARY:
What an amazing game!!!!!!!! This has to rate as one of the FA cup classics and despite the match going to penalties, the tempo and atmosphere was simply amazing.
With West Ham being the underdogs, the first twenty minutes were vital in that they had to keep Liverpool at bay and play to their strengths to stand a chance against the mighty Reds. It was, therefore, ironic that they went ahead on the 21st minute from a Jamie Carragher own goal.
Soon after, Liverpool were stunned as West Ham doubled their advantage courtesy of a close range effort from striker Dean Ashton.
This set back sprung Liverpool to life and striker Cisse pulled a goal back just four minutes later. Skipper Gerrard then equalised soon after the break with a cracking effort - an absolute gem of a goal (or so I thought until he scored his 2nd) and Liverpool were well and truly back in the game.
In a game full of amazing twists, Paul Konchesky's speculative cross put West Ham ahead once again before Captain Fantastic Gerrard's stunning last-minute strike forced extra-time and Pepe Reina saved from Bobby Zamora, Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand in the shoot-out.
Liverpool: FA Cup Winners 2006!!! (bbc.co.uk)
The goal Gerrard scored was unbelievable...displaying awesome technique and power at such a critical moment of the match. I dare say that only a handful of midfielders in the world would've been able to pull that one off. *If my neighbour happens to be reading this, I apologise profusely for screaming my head off during the middle of the night!!*
In the shoot-out, Liverpool stopper Reina made up for what was an erratic performance on his part with three crucial spot-kick saves. After Jerzy Dudek's heroics in last season's Champions League Final, we now have another super penalty saver in the team.
A fantastic come-back by Liverpool for a richly deserved victory!! But credit to West Ham for being top opponents in a truly memorable FA Cup Final!!
Marlon Harewood fired West Ham to a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Villa Park and into an FA Cup final against Liverpool.
Harewood latched onto a header from Dean Ashton and held off the attentions of Gareth Southgate to rifle his shot past Boro's substitute keeper Bradley Jones.
It will be West Ham's first FA Cup appearance since 1980, when as a second division side under the late John Lyall, they beat Arsenal.
Aussies Mark Schwarzer, who was injured during the game, and Mark Viduka will be disappointed to be unable to meet Harry Kewell (Liverpool) in the final, but they are still in with a chance in the UEFA cup and that is something they can look forward to.
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