neyo

Boy, what a final too! For anyone who knows me, they’ll know I was following the Hammers today, as my hate for Liverpool is undeniable. 30 minutes into the game, I was in my element, quickly text messaging anyone in my phonebook, who was a Scouser. An own goal, especially was more sweet, than anything I could of wished for, at that moment! It was going so well, even at half time, it 2-1 was a tidy score-line, West Ham were playing a tidy game.

Second half started off in a bad means, with Liverpool coming back into the game quite quickly, through Gerrard’s very tidy strike. But that was outdone, with a wonderful strike (ok, a mis-hit cross ) from Paul Koncheskey (does anyone think he looks like a fella from one of those strange Sci Fi programs they have on?! ). I was going absolutely mental, as the ball hit the back of the net, making it 3-2, pure madness! From that point on, Liverpool seem to lose their way too, as West Ham seemed to take a hold the game. Etherington and particularly Beanyoun were really looking threatening with the ball. The game was going great, players began to drop like flies, as cramp took a hold of many players, with 10 minutes to go. Gerrard in particularly was a concern, given the recent injuries to the England players, it was concerning to see him injured too – fortunately it is apparently ‘just bad cramp’. Regulation time ended, and the 4th assistant announced FOUR minutes of injury time. Even though it was a fair bit of injury time, I was quietly confident West Ham could get through, because Liverpool really weren’t creating much, with ONLY Morientes up-front, and Cissé on the left, who had major cramp – so much so he looked like he couldn’t run at all. But, as Mr. Reo-Coker said (who was incidently, awesome today)) it just wasn’t their day, as Mr. Gerrard hit probably the goal of his life from a good 30 yards on the half volley. What a goal, the ball didn’t touch the ground, until it hit the back of the net. It pains me to say it, but that was ONE HELL OF A GOAL. I was sat, in pure disarray, as Liverpool pulled themselves out of a hole, AGAIN.

From that point, Extra time was on the horizon, for which the game really did slow down quite considerably. A good third of the players hit the deck, within the 30 minute period, plagued with cramp, which you can understand to a degree – the game really was an all out offensive battle (well after the initial 20 minute intro). West Ham were the only team really to have any real chance to score, when Mr. Reina made an awesome save, in the 119th minute, to nudge the ball onto the post. I cannot repeat on here, the kind of language I was using, as he made the save, see the ball hit the post, bounce back to Mr. Harewood, who absolutely spooned the ball, with an open goal gaping infront him – The pain! As penalties reared their ugly head, for the 2nd year running, I expected the worse, and unfortunately that occurred, Liverpool won.

The game though, really was a spectacle, with some top top performaces from the likes of Reo-Coker, Gabbidon, Benayoun, last but no means least Gerrard. Unfortunately, he WAS the difference, as Liverpool really didn’t create much more, after he scored his first, and Liverpool’s 2nd, early in the 2nd half. On the plus side, I look forward to seeing Gerrard putting in performances like that for England. With finishing like that, it’s a thought, to whether he can help to fill the void left by Wayne Rooney. I don’t mean, throwing him up-front, but the prospect of him coming from deep, playing like has been for Liverpool, is an interesting one. Unfortunately, with Lampard too, it makes things just as confusing, who holds, and who attacks?! Moving back to the final for a second, I have to re-iterate, WHAT a game! Wow. Only one final for me surpasses it, in all competitions – the 1999 Champions League Final.