LIVERPOOL have recorded a number of great triumphs with the help of penalty shootouts. This was not one of them.
Wembley 2012 will not be remembered with the same fondness as Rome 1984, Istanbul 2005 or Cardiff 2006. This was, after all, the Carling Cup against Cardiff City, a team from the Championship.
Nevertheless, Liverpool’s shamelessly exuberant celebrations in north London on Sunday evening were understandable, given the stress, trauma and anxiety during the Merseyside club’s recent history.
Kenny Dalglish was reinstated as manager last year to bring direction and purpose to a club who had suffered so much under the American ownership that preceded the regime of John W Henry.
With that in mind, it is helpful to that cause that the Scot will end this season with the club’s first trophy since the FA Cup win over West Ham at Cardiff six years ago.
This was a great game, a handy reminder to those managers who refuse to treat it seriously that the Carling Cup can still matter.
It wasn’t a great performance by Liverpool. In many ways, it served only to remind us of how limited this team is. They could have lost. Indeed, had Malky Mackay’s admirable players held their nerve better in the shootout, Liverpool would have.
However, on Sunday — perhaps more than ever — the winning was everything. When you have been down on your luck as long as Liverpool have, you take what you can get.
Dalglish’s first full year in charge at Anfield has provided the more objective of the Liverpool support with as many questions as it has answers in terms of his long-term suitability in the post.
One thing he has done, though, is unite his players and instil in them a belief and willingness to play hard for their club. Without it, Liverpool may have succumbed on Sunday.
A goal behind for almost 45 minutes, the Barclays Premier League club didn’t panic. Pegged backed to 2-2 at the death, they didn’t buckle in the shootout.
Only Charlie Adam took a bad penalty. It remains unclear whether they have found that ball yet.
These situations tell you a lot about a group of players. There has been a drain in quality on the playing staff since Rafael Benitez’s class of 2008-09 pushed Manchester United all the way in the title race. Happily, there has been no drain in understanding of what it means to play for the club.
Liverpool encountered a Cardiff side imbued with similar values. Honest, full of endeavour and playing with a clear understanding of their roles, they reflected their immensely promising manager as Mackay had expressed hope they would.
Sadly, it will take Kenny Miller many nights to shake the memories of this day from his dreams. With the goal yawning before him in the last moments of normal time, the Scot in whom Mackay has so much faith lashed the ball over. His penalty 40 minutes later, which struck the post, was sadly no better.
On days of drama like this, though, fall guys inevitably emerge. What matters now is how Miller, Mackay and Cardiff react to this between now and the end of the season.
From that point of view, both of Sunday’s competing teams are alike. Both have opportunities in front of them over the coming weeks.
Liverpool still have a Champions League place to squabble over. Cardiff have the carrot of promotion to the Premier League.
Sunday’s remarkable events at Wembley should one day be remembered fondly by both clubs. One hopes that – come May – they can both reflect on an afternoon that served as a platform.
CARDIFF CITY (4-4-1-1): Heaton 8; McNaughton 7 (Blake 106min, 6), Hudson 7 (Gerrard 99, 5), Turner 8, Taylor 7; Mason 7 (Kiss 91, 6), Whittingham 7, Gunnarsson 6, Cowie 7; Miller 6; Gestede 5. Subs not used: Marshall, Naylor, Conway, Earnshaw.
Scorers: Mason 19, Turner 118.
Booked: Kiss, Turner.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina 6; Johnson 7, Skrtel 8, Agger 6 (Carragher 87, 6), Jose Enrique 6; Henderson 4 (Bellamy 58, 6), Gerrard 6, Adam 5, Downing 7; Suarez 5; Carroll 5 (Kuyt 103, 7). Subs not used: Doni, Kelly, Maxi, Spearing.
Scorers: Skrtel 60, Kuyt 108.
Booked: Henderson.
Man of the match: Martin Skrtel.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg 7.
Attendance: 89,044. – Daily Mail