Liverpool 2-2 Man City (Aggregate: 3-2)
Liverpool are going to Wembley for the first time since 1996 and that infamous "White Shirt" appearance. In fact, have a free picture, on me.
Yeah, I know. They went on to lose that cup final against Manchester United, and some people think it may have jinxed their chances of appearing at Wembley. Of course they have been involved in cup finals - their last League Cup final appearance came in a loss to Chelsea in 2005 - but they were all at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff during Wembley's renovation.
However, it appears the curse has lifted, as Liverpool can now prepare to play at the New Wembley for the first time, and to be fair, history was with them. They have now got a record of 39 two-legged match wins where they have come back to Anfield with a lead. City also had a mountain to climb, having not scored two goals away from home since beating QPR 3-2 in November.
Man City took the lead twice in a match they had to win to have any chance of meeting Cardiff in this year's final. As we all know, the League Cup has a weird system of only counting the away goals rule after extra time. Just getting that out there while I remember. Anyway, the Manchester side were without the King of Crazy Balotelli, but they didn't need him as they charged into a lead through Nigel De Jong's amazing goal and his second for the club saw City take the lead in the 31st minute. Steven Gerrard soon restored Liverpool's lead through a penalty after Micah Richards handled in the area.
Edin Dzeko, who seems to finally be finding his feet in England, scored to put City back in the lead, and all seemed lost for Liverpool until former City striker and outcast Craig Bellamy scored a well-worked goal in the 74th minute to sink his former club and deny them a second final appearance in two years. Liverpool can now begin planning for the final against Cardiff on the 26th February.
Cardiff City 1-0 Crystal Palace (Aggregate 1-1) Cardiff win on Penalties
Cardiff overcame a one goal deficit and a penalty shootout to book their first ever League Cup final. They trailed 1-0 to Crystal Palace from the first leg, and went out with the attacking intent that has defined their league form. It was an own goal from Palace's Gardner that proved to be the goal to level Cardiff. They dominated from the off, but they just couldn't get the ball in the net. Palace's problems were compounded when they had their captain McCarthy sent off in the 78th minute.
It was a nerve wracking match for both sets of fans, as Cardiff hit the woodwork 3 times, but the Palace defence held strong, and penalties loomed. Kenny Miller missed the first of Cardiff's penalties after he smashed it over the bar, but Tom Heaton saved two penalties in a row to bring them back into the game. Cardiff went 3-1 up, and Palace missed, to end a tense match between two very determined teams. However for Palace it was not to be, and one can only imagine what would have happened had their captain not been sent off. Here's looking forward to the Final in February.
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